Andranik Kocharyan: “The problem of protecting Artsakh should not be resolved in the center of Yerevan”

During these days, the RA Police regularly detain citizens who have violated the public order, some of them are presumably persons who avoided three-month trainings and compulsory military service. The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security Andranik Kocharyan voiced about this during the working discussion held on May 5.

The MPs, the RA Deputy Head of Police Arthur Martirosyan, the Chief of the Military Police Ashot Zakaryan, the Head of MOD conscription and mobilization service Armen Avtandilyan and experts of the sphere took part in the discussion.

Andranik Kocharyan called on the law enforcement bodies to collect the data of the mentioned citizens and pass them to the RA Ministry of Defense.

The Chair of the Committee expressed the conviction that the problem of protecting Artsakh should not be resolved in the center of Yerevan. "Our armed forces have a problem of regulating the mobilization resources," the deputy noted, adding that this issue was ignored for years, and the shortcomings in the system emerged during the 44-day war. According to Andranik Kocharyan, it is necessary to resolve the problem, especially taking into account the fact that the youth who have taken to the streets during these days want to take part in the settlement of the Artsakh issue.

The deputy highlighted the organization of three-month trainings and the participation of the youth in them.

After the 44-day war, the military commissariats have begun three-month trainings for the first time, two of which have already taken place, and the third one is in process. The Head of MOD conscription and mobilization service Armen Avtandilyan said about this. He stated that the materials on those who avoided those trainings were sent to the investigative bodies. According to the rapporteur, taking into account the modernization of armaments, military equipment and means of communication, all persons registered in the reserve are obliged to participate in trainings.

The Chief of the Military Police Ashot Zakaryan highlighted the discussion. He noted that taking into account the situation on the borders of Armenia and Artsakh, it is necessary to involve trained and patriotic young people in the protection of the borders.

The Deputy Head of Police Arthur Martirosyan informed that the data of the detainees were identified. That information will be transferred to the Ministry of Defense to find out if they are of conscription age or not.

The deputies welcomed the discussion. They stated that it is a result of public demand. They attached importance to the full implementation of the oversight function assigned to the parliament. The work of law enforcement bodies to check the legality of the grounds for exemption from conscription was highlighted.

Andranik Kocharyan noted that he informed his opposition colleagues about the discussion, but they did not come to the discussion.

The Committee will organize a closed discussion on the issue in the near future.