An Ezidi citizen of Armenia has become part of a wider legal debate over Armenia’s military service regulations and the treatment of men who returned to the country after reaching the age of 27.
An Ezidi who returned to Armenia in 2025 with the intention of regularizing his military service obligation through payment and short-term service. However, due to the legal rules in force at the time, he was reportedly not allowed to benefit from the mechanism and has remained in custody since December 2025.
The issue was raised publicly by Hayk Sargsyan, a deputy from Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party. Sargsyan has promoted a legislative initiative that would allow not only wanted persons, but also people already in custody, to use the military service regularization mechanism. The proposed change could affect other men in similar situations.
The debate comes after Armenia amended its military service rules, giving men aged 27 to 37 certain options to resolve previous compulsory service obligations through military service, payment, or a combination of both.
Sargsyan has called on members of Armenia’s National Assembly to support an extraordinary session so the issue can be addressed before the current parliament’s work ends.
