YEREVAN. - The Government of Armenia approved Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan’s proposal to amend the Law on Alternative Military Service.

The law has been in effect in Armenia since 2004, but no applications for alternative service have been made. The reason is that the law in effect provides for military control over servicemen, which is against their religious beliefs.

Under the amendments, persons that do their alternative service are to receive military cards.

International experts and agencies have for a long time urged Armenia to amend its military law.