The Government Tightens Military Deferment Conditions
During the government session on December 19, a draft decision was adopted aimed at clarifying the list of illnesses that determine a citizen’s or serviceman’s fitness for military service.
The draft specifies that certain illnesses, which previously allowed conscripts to receive a one-year deferment, will now be categorized as conditions suitable for limited military service if there is no deterioration in health within a year. As Defense Minister Suren Papikyan noted, the current situation has several issues. For instance, citizens who are granted a one-year deferment for treatment purposes often receive another deferment for the same medical condition without undergoing proper treatment. Additionally, the service experience of conscripts deemed fit with limitations often reveals varying manifestations of health issues, and in some cases, there are no contraindications at all.
There are illnesses that can potentially be treated within a year through medical intervention. Experience shows that there is a lack of public interest in restoring health through such interventions. This leads to a cycle where another one-year deferment is granted, followed by yet another, and so on.
Papikyan elaborated that if, after receiving a one-year deferment, it is determined that the illness could have been addressed through surgery but was not, the Ministry of Defense will arrange the intervention at its own expense and conscript such individuals for limited service.