On 17 May, the President of the Republic signed the law “On Declaring Amnesty to Persons Avoiding Regular Conscription or Alternative Service.”

In a conversation with Iravaban.net, Vardanush Kavalyan, lawyer cooperating with the Legal Alliance Law Firm, said that the amnesty is applicable to ordinary persons over 27 years of age who have avoided compulsory military or alternative service, are suspected or accused, or have been convicted under Article 327, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia; if the envisaged act was committed during martial law orthey are accused in the crime of avoiding the regular conscription of the military service or alternative service defined by Part 3.

If you are wanted, and the measure of preliminary detention has been imposed upon you as the measure of restraint, then:

• It is necessary to enter the territory of the Republic of Armenia (by 31 December, 2021 inclusive).
• After entering, you will be detained for a short time; you will be presented to the body conducting the proceedings.
• the body conducting the proceedings will resolve the issue of removing or changing the measure of restraint applied to you in a short period of time, and, accordingly, you will have the opportunity to be released from detention and to be free.
• In case of compliance with the requirements of the amnesty law, the competent body will apply the amnesty to you.

According to the lawyer, the term of the process is not defined; its duration will depend on each case taken separately.

“Thanks to our service, the beneficiary can find out about the progress of his case by providing a power of attorney to us before entering Armenia. In such case, we contact the competent authorities, make inquiries, provide legal assistance to the beneficiary at the airport, as well as submit a petition to resolve the issue of detention as soon as possible,” Ms Kavalyan said.

The specialist also adds that the participation of a lawyer will help speed up the process, operatively resolve the issue of applying a precautionary measure, and finally resolve the issue of applying amnesty to the beneficiary.

More details about the amnesty which are available in Armenian language are here.

Please be informed that “LIGL ALLIANCE” law firm is ready to provide legal assistance to the citizens related to the mentioned law, to those to whom the amnesty points are applicable. For details, call +374 55 003216.