1 / 10

At May 4 sitting, the Parliament presented by the RA Deputy Minister of Justice Armen Hovhannisyan debated in the first reading the draft law authored by the Government on Granting Pardon to Persons Who Evaded Regular Conscription of Compulsory Military or Alternative Service, Training Camp or Mobilization Conscription. According to the key rapporteur, the adoption of the initiative is based on the mitigation of the post-war consequences, as well as the manifestation of the principles of humanity and solidarity.

The adoption of the draft law gives the persons who avoided the military service an opportunity to return to their homeland and make their contribution to the development of a number of fields.

It is envisaged to grant pardon to male citizens who are 27-year-old privates and 35-year-old reserve officers who avoided compulsory military or alternative service until 26 September 2020 including, as well as the announced training camp and mobilization conscription and who are suspected, accused or convicted of a crime pursuant to only Article 327.1 of the RA Criminal Code

As the Deputy Minister informed, amendments will be implemented to the bill in the first to the second reading. Debates that took place were the basis for them. As a result of amendments, the possible frame will be expanded. It is planned to grant pardon to the persons who are suspected, accused or convicted of committing a crime pursuant to not only Article 327.1, but also 3 of the RA Criminal Code.

The pardon will not be granted to the persons who avoided announced mobilization conscription on 7 September 2020, as well as training camp.

It has been envisaged not to grant pardon to the persons who can be accused, are accused or convicted under rules of combination of crimes or convictions by another article of the RA Criminal Code. However, as a result of debates, it was decided to remove the restriction in the first to the second reading.

The Chair of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security Andranik Kocharyan presented the endorsement of the committee led by him in terms of the bill.

“Clearly realizing that many young Armenians being abroad could not return to their homeland during the war and support the state, the RA Government initiated the process of granting pardon the private over 27 years old and top officers over 35 years old, compulsory military or alternative service, as well as those who avoided the announced training camp or mobilization conscription by humanitarian principles until 26 September 2020. It gives young people who were absent from their homeland for different reasons a unique opportunity to return and make an investment for the development of the economic, social and cultural spheres of the RA in the post-war period,” Andranik Kocharyan underlined.

In Q&A format, the deputies tried to specify the procedures for granting pardon to our compatriots after returning to Armenia.

The RA Deputy Minister of Justice Armen Hovhannisyan has clarified that the latter should voluntarily appear in criminal prosecution bodies or in the court. In case of appearing, procedural issues should be resolved. Pardon, by competent bodies, will be granted after coming this law into force within three months.

“Citizens will come to Armenia, and the decisions will be made to terminate and not to carry out criminal prosecution by the relevant competent bodies through fast procedures. It will turn out that the pardon was granted to that person,” the Deputy Minister said.