Azernews.Az

Over half of young Armenians are ineligible for military service, a recent draft has revealed. It was ascertained that the disease rate has increased among conscripts. Thus, 500 of the 800 youngsters drafted this spring were assigned to undergo additional medical examination to determine their eligibility, local media reported. Senior doctor at the Kotayka drafting unit, Nune Avetisian, said young people who were born after the 1988 devastating earthquake and "grew up in the conditions of cold and darkness" are currently drafted to the Armenian army. "Presumably, increasing health problems of the youngsters who have reached conscript age is due to this." The doctor said problems related to thorax, spinal cord and flat feet are encountered during each draft. However, the latest draft has revealed an increasing number of young people suffering from psyche disorders, nervous system and eye-related problems. According to the reports, Armenians unwilling to serve in the military tend to leave the country. Informal data suggests that over 1,000 young men have left Armenia for Russia and other countries in the past year.*