On Thursday, Armenian lawmakers passed a new law allowing retired army officers to return to military service while keeping their state pensions. This legislation, supported by pro-government advocates, aims to attract more mid-level and junior officers back into the armed forces.
Currently, state pension payments for retired officers are suspended when they return to active duty. Defense Minister Suren Papikian, who participated in the parliamentary discussions, highlighted the bill’s significance in re-engaging experienced personnel in various military specialties.
“This applies to border military units and critical special forces, including various troop types. For instance, we can recruit individuals for units focused on drone operations. We particularly value specialists in communication, anti-aircraft defense, and intelligence—those who possess the necessary knowledge and experience to swiftly integrate into the Armed Forces and make meaningful contributions,” Papikyan stated.
The bill, which received unanimous support from both the ruling majority and opposition, specifies that the Ministry of Defense will determine the military units eligible for reengagement of retired officers. Papikyan clarified that these officers would retain their pensions if they are assigned to mid-level and junior officer roles, with ranks not exceeding lieutenant colonel.
During the debate, Tigran Abrahamyan from the opposition Pativ Unem faction expressed concerns that this law alone would not sufficiently bolster army personnel. He suggested that doubling the salaries of combat personnel across all military units would yield a more substantial impact.
Additionally, members of the opposition Hayastan faction proposed that the law be applied retroactively to benefit those servicemen who rejoined the armed forces prior to this amendment and lost their pensions as a result.
