Student activists with government officials during a roundtable discussion on Wednesday
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)””Leaders of a student movement against restrictions of the right to draft deferments have met with Armenian parliament members and government officials on Wednesday in a ”˜roundtable discussion’ that was promised to them in exchange for the halt in their street protests last week.
The restrictions sought by the Ministry of Defense were approved by the Armenian National Assembly on November 15 and will become law upon signing by President Serzh Sarkisian.
Under the legislation, in order to get a draft deferment all male students who want to pursue their studies must sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense and agree to serve three years in the military after completing their studies at the location chosen by the Ministry. Otherwise, the legislation stipulates, the students will be drafted to the army once they attain the age of 18 to serve for two years.
Critics of the legislation argue that the measure will discourage students from pursuing scientific careers and will eventually harm the development of science in the country. Proponents of the law, including Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian, see no such risks. They point out that the law will give a fairer treatment to all students and will reduce corruption by closing a key loophole to avoiding compulsory military service.
David Petrosyan, one of the leaders of the student group, “For Science Development”
