Armenian students protest against defense minister
By Rashid Shirinov
The initiative of Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan to tighten the rules of the military conscription caused discontent in the Armenian society, especially among students, who are now frightened by the deprivation of their rights to higher education.
Armenian students held a protest action in front of the Armenian
parliament building on October 25 against the amendments adopted by
the Armenian Parliament.
The protestors claimed that the legislation would limit their
educational opportunities as well as affect their future lives. The
students shouted slogans such as ‘Deferment for the sake of science
should exist’.
The new legislation abolishes temporary exemptions from military
service that have long been enjoyed by many students of state-run
universities.
The students demanded to meet with the defense minister or with any representative of the permanent parliamentary commission on defense, national security and internal affairs.
“According to our approximate estimates, 140 students enter postgraduate studies every year, and but now they will lose the opportunity to engage in science,” said one of the protesters, adding that those who go to serve in the army, do not want to continue their studies after coming back.
Another participant of the protest action said that they do not want their brothers to serve in the military service for three years, as the time that they could spend on science will be spent in vain in this case.
Under the new legislation, a respite from the army for studies will be provided only if the Armenian citizen signs a contract with the Defense Ministry. In this case, after completing his studies, the students undertakes to serve in the Armenian army for not two, but three years.
Thus, the ruling regime has took another step towards the militarization of the Armenian society.
Currently, Armenia is the third most militarized country in the world, and it seems that the country’s government seeks to advance to the first place in this ranking. If Armenia wants to strengthen its armed forces, then it should work on the quality of its military personnel, but not on the quantity, as the terrible hazing and lack of discipline are reigning in the country’s armed forces.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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