Opposition Says Armenians Returning From Russia Are Being Warned They Could Be Sent to 25-Day Military Training Before Election

As Armenia approaches its June 7 parliamentary elections, concerns are growing among opposition figures and civil society activists over reports that Armenian citizens returning from Russia are being served notices requiring them to report for 25-day military training sessions.

The controversy has intensified after Armenia's Ministry of Defense confirmed that military police are operating at border checkpoints, including at Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport, to assist military commissariats in identifying and registering citizens eligible for mandatory military service and reserve training. The ministry has not denied reports that draft-eligible individuals are being registered upon arrival in the country.

Critics argue that the timing of the measures, just days before a closely watched national election, risks undermining public confidence in the fairness of the electoral process.

Opposition representatives have raised concerns that the reserve training system could be used to discourage politically active citizens and members of the Armenian diaspora from returning to Armenia during the election period.

Gegham Manukyan, a member of parliament from the opposition Armenia Alliance, accused the authorities of attempting to intimidate citizens living abroad.

"In recent days, representatives of the authorities, lawmakers, campaigners, and officials have begun warning compatriots planning to come to Armenia that anyone arriving from Russia could be sent to 25-day military training camps," Manukyan wrote on Facebook.

According to Manukyan, the warnings serve two purposes: discouraging citizens from traveling to Armenia during the election period and politicizing military service for electoral gain. He also pointed to previous anti-government protest movements, during which opposition activists alleged that politically engaged young people were disproportionately called up for reserve training.

Human rights advocate Hovhannes Ishkhanyan also criticized the reported warnings, arguing that Armenian citizens living abroad should be able to return and participate in elections without fear of pressure or intimidation. He called on diaspora Armenians from Russia, Europe, North America, and elsewhere to exercise their voting rights.

The issue has drawn particular attention because hundreds of thousands of Armenian citizens reside outside the country, especially in Russia, Europe, and North America. Their participation in elections is often viewed as an important component of Armenia's democratic process.

International election observers and human rights organizations have frequently emphasized that voters must be able to participate in elections free from intimidation, coercion, or undue administrative pressure. While Armenian authorities maintain that military registration and reserve training requirements are legal obligations established under national law, critics argue that any enforcement actions carried out immediately before an election risk creating the perception of political interference.

With voting day approaching, the debate has become another flashpoint in an increasingly polarized political environment, raising broader questions about electoral freedoms, diaspora participation, and the role of state institutions during Armenia's democratic process.

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