`Buyout` bill could be modified - NA speaker 

ArmInfo.  National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan touched upon the reasons for postponing the discussion of the legislative initiative on legal "buy-off" from the army. As Simonyan stated in a conversation with journalists on May 27, the ultimate goal of the authorities is to create a professional army.

On May 22, the RA government approved the draft law on amendments to  the law "On Military Service and the Status of a Serviceman"  submitted by an MP from the ruling faction with some reservations. In  particular, 24 million drams will have to be paid for 1 month of  service, 18 million drams for 4 months of service (only in the  training unit). When announcing each conscription, the government  will be able to accept the maximum number of applications for  "preferential" service, based on the needs of the Ministry of  Defense. The maximum age limit for compulsory military service is  proposed to be increased from 27 to 32 years. This will not affect  citizens who have already turned 19, 20, 27, 32 years old, but those  who have reached the draft age. The state duty for renouncing  Armenian citizenship before the age of 16 will be set at 15 million  drams. However, on May 26, at a meeting of the RA National Assembly  Committee on Defense and Security, the discussion of the draft was  postponed indefinitely, .

When asked by a journalist whether public criticism influenced this  decision, the NA Speaker responded today that public reaction always  matters.

,  Simonyan emphasized, adding that discussions are ongoing.

According to him, the problems that have existed in the army for  years should be solved gradually, and it is for this purpose that  such initiatives are being discussed.

, Simonyan said.

In addition to the opposition and numerous experts, the initiative  was also opposed by the Ombudsman of Armenia Anahit Manasyan. In her  opinion, the proposed changes could lead to serious social  stratification based on the property status of citizens, which  effectively violates the principle of prohibition of discrimination.  As Manasyan explained, the possibility of serving a shorter term of  service for money will create an unfair distribution of  constitutional and legislative obligations. "From the point of view  of social justice, such an approach is unacceptable. Military  personnel must be protected from discrimination on any grounds  related to human rights and freedoms. In addition, the proposed  provisions contain risks for ensuring strict discipline in the army,  and the protection and promotion of human rights in the army is  difficult to implement without maintaining strict discipline among  military personnel," the human rights defender noted. In connection  with the above, the human rights defender wondered whether the risks  had been assessed, how strict and high discipline would be ensured  among military personnel, some of whom will receive benefits only for  monetary payment compared to others and will serve for a shorter  period. She also expressed concerns that this could lead to internal  contradictions and conflicts among soldiers, as well as deepen  hazing.