RA NA committee approves bill to shorten military service

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Standing Committee on Defense and Security of Armenia’s National Assembly has approved a draft law proposing to reduce the length of mandatory military service for conscripts by six months, Aysor.am reports.

Under the proposal, the current 24-month compulsory service for rank-and-file soldiers would be reduced to 18 months. This change will apply to citizens conscripted on or after January 1, 2026.

According to the government’s draft decision on the 2025 winter conscription campaign, the enlistment process will begin on January 7, 2026. Those drafted during this cycle will serve for 18 months under the new law.

The reduction in service term will not apply retroactively to conscripts already in service as of January 1, 2026.

The bill has been designated as urgent and will be debated during a plenary session of the National Assembly.