NSS IS LAUNCHING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE EXEMPT FROM MILITARY SERVICE

During the months of January-March 2024, New Generation Humanitarian NGO (NG NGO) received several calls from beneficiaries with an alarming information that they had been receiving notices from the National Security Service (NSS) of the Republic of Armenia, informing them that criminal investigations had been initiated regarding their exemption from military service on the grounds of homosexuality. All the beneficiaries who received the notices, had been exempted from military service in the period of 2021-2022.  

The cases were transferred from the National Security Service to the appropriate investigative departments, where the investigations of the cases continue. The persons who received the notices reported that they were referred by the investigators to mental health centers to undergo a double examination.

With the support of NG NGO, the initiated cases were dismissed.  

 

New Generation Humanitarian NGO expresses its concern about the illegal actions of law enforcement agencies and urges to act exclusively in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Armenia. 

 

Clarification: 

Article 8 of No. 404-N Decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia dated April 12, 2018. 

Includes personality and behavior disorders, including specific and mixed personality disorders, psychological and behavioral disorders related to habits and tendencies, sexual identification, sexual preference, sexual development and orientation, expressed and irretrievable forms, personality disorders with frequent decompensation, as well as recurrent situational and personal reactions, the frequency of which is 3 times or more within 1 year. 

In this case, the person is not fit for compulsory military service. 

 

Ammendments to the Decision as of June 1, 2023: 

Includes overt, decompensated adult-onset and major-onset behavior disorders, decompensated or compensated personality disorders. The majority of psychological and behavioral disorders related to sexual identification, preference, development and orientation are also examined in this article. Forms of sexual orientation that are not psychological and behavioral disorders or are not combined with them are not an obstacle to military service.