People aged 27 and having evaded military service by Karabakh war to be pardoned in Armenia

Armenia’s government decided to pardon the people who evaded the military draft.

Justice minister Rustam Badasyan said the decision is based on humanitarian and solidarity principle.

“The bill spreads on persons reached age 27 for rank-and-file and age 35 for officer staff till 2020 September 26, suspects, defendants and convicts persecuted only under Article 327 of Armenia’s Criminal Code,” Badasyan said at the cabinet sitting today.

He said the amnesty will spread on the people on who the punishment in the form of imprisonment was not conditionally applied, on wanted persons.

According to April 5 data, the number of such people stands at 5,131.

However, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that about 90% are wanted under Article 327.

“Taking into account the process of substantive reforms in the army we considered right to make such political decision,” Pashinyan said.