Many Parents Are Denying Their Children Armenian Citizenship, Says Defense Minister

Many parents in Armenia are depriving their children of Armenian citizenship to avoid military service, stated Defense Minister Suren Papikyan during the government meeting today.

The minister noted that the issue concerns thousands of cases, although he refrained from providing specific numbers due to national security considerations.

According to Papikyan, the acceptance of the draft law on reduced military service will allow those citizens who attempted to evade military service through various means, due to security reasons, to serve in the Armenian Armed Forces at least for a reduced term on equal grounds with others.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan also remarked that this is an extremely sensitive and important issue.