Armenian conscription system could radically change

Radical changes to military service in Armenia are quite likely, Artsrun Hovannisian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence of Armenia said, Novosti-Armenia reports. "Time will tell. The current conscription system was inherited from the Soviet Union, and this mechanism is sometimes not justified," Hovannisian told reporters.

According to him, every year the mechanisms of conscription become more stringent. "Now we're examining the conscription this year, and it is possible that many of the major grades may lose their jobs on the basis of the inspections," he added.

He said that every year after conscription and before the announcement of the next one, the whole process is examined, sometimes thousands of cases are re-examined, and numerous violations are revealed. Hovannisian said that this year the first phase of conscription was strict and fair; however, "parents still find ways of circumventing the law."