Papikyan says military service term cut unrelated to election

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan stated that the six-month reduction in mandatory military service is not part of an election campaign but rather a component of the Armenian Armed Forces reform strategy. He made the remarks on Public Television.

He added that the reduction is part of the army reform framework outlined in the government’s 2021 five-year pre-election program and its implementation has simply coincided with the 2026 pre-election period, as reported by Pastinfo.

"This is our government’s program and promise. Naturally, we are fulfilling our commitments. It’s all documented in the army transformation concept," he said.

Papikyan also noted that the public response to this measure has been overwhelmingly positive.

As of January 1, 2026, the duration of mandatory military service in Armenia will be reduced by six months, from two years to one and a half years.