The statement of Armenia’s “Jehovah’s Witnesses” Organization
08:39, November 1, 2013 | News | Rights of Soldiers/Recruits | Armed Forces
Armenia offers alternative labor service to those denouncing military service on the grounds of their conscience beliefs.
On October 23, 2013 the Armenian Republican Committee satisfied the application of 57 Jehovah’s Witnesses over passing to the new alternative labor service program. The aforementioned number includes 6 out of 20 convicted Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The beginning of these positive developments was established on June 8, 2013, when Armenia made amendments to the RA law on alternative military service by bringing them in line with international standards. The first substantial proof for these amendments came to the fore on October 2, 2013, when Armenia’s President made a reference to the latest amendments of the RA law on alternative military service in his observations submitted to the PACE he mentioned, “those who do not want to serve in the army on the grounds of their conscience beliefs, according to our procedures, will be exempted from criminal liability”.
This new program of alternative labor service allows those Jehovah’s Witnesses, who denounce military service based on their conscience beliefs, to render such services to their country which are in line with their conscience provided by the Bible.
Instead of serving 2-3 years of sentences at detention facilities among mostly criminals, these young men, according to their conscience, now have a chance to choose an alternative labor service. During the first session held by the Republican Committee those people, denouncing military service on the grounds of their conscience beliefs, who had submitted applications, got their appointments to carry out various jobs and will serve as orderlies, yard maintenance personnel, kitchen workpeople, or will carry out other jobs of non-military nature at medical institutions or orphanages.
Many of these young men have expressed their willingness to serve for the benefit of their compatriots. The Republican Committee took a decision in relation to 6 people arrested based on their conscience beliefs and today on October 24 they were released from “Erebuni” penitentiary. Soon they will begin their service under civil oversight.
These young men are happy to witness how their initial request to pass to alternative labor service is yielding a final resolution. The Committee will also discuss the remaining applications of imprisoned Jehovah’s Witnesses, who expressed willingness to pass to alternative labor service and these young men are expected to be released by replacing their imprisonment term with alternative labor service. The complete version of the statement of Armenia’s “Jehovah’s Witnesses” Organization is available at: Armenia offers alternative labor service to those denouncing military service on the grounds of their conscience beliefs.