At today’s Cabinet session, the government approved the bill on amending the law on military service in Armenia, according to which, starting from the 2025 winter draft, the 24-month mandatory military service in the country will be reduced to 18 months.

The aforesaid legislative amendment states that the reduction in the duration of mandatory military service will be offset by the growth of contract service:

Also, the adoption of this draft law anticipates a reduction in expenses for organizing mandatory military service, starting from the second half of 2027, since the 18-month service term for those drafted in the 2025 winter draft — beginning January 2026 — will end in July 2027.

The legislative amendments approved by the government will be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration in the prescribed manner.

It should be recalled that this change, initially discussed since 2021, was planned to take effect from the 2026 summer draft. But on October 21, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that this amendment will enter into force on January 1, 2026.

Some analysts believe, however, that this is a pre-election move by the ruling political force in Armenia.