Armenia to Cut Mandatory Military Service to 18 Months

At its October 30 session, among the non-reported drafts, the Government adopted a decision to amend the law on military service and the status of servicemen. Accordingly, the 24-month term of compulsory military service is to be reduced by 6 months, establishing an 18-month term of compulsory military service starting from the 2025 winter conscription.

With the adoption of the draft, a decrease in expenses for the organization of compulsory military service is predicted, starting from the second half of 2027, as the 18-month service term for the 2025 winter conscription, beginning in January 2026, will end in July 2027.

The draft still needs to be submitted to the Parliament for approval. Opposition political forces have already come forward with criticism, justifying it with the fear that the change will result in a reduction of the Armed Forces' personnel numbers. Representatives of the executive and the ruling party, on the contrary, insist that this change will not lead to a reduction in the Armed Forces' composition.