20 November 2013, 23:54
In Armenia, 20 Jehovah's Witnesses released from prisons under Law "On Alternative Service"
In Armenia, the Commission on Alternative Service has accepted applications of 72 Jehovah's Witnesses, who want to take civilian alternative service instead of military one, including 20 satisfied applications filed by believers, who had served prison sentences for refusing to take their military service on religious grounds. The time period spent by them in prisons will be credited to the period of their alternative service.
In Armenia, the Law "On Alternative Service" entered into force in July 2004; however, its implementation has been repeatedly criticized. The alternative service lasts for 42 months, 18 months longer than the military service; and that fact did not meet European standards.
The beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses do not allow them to take the alternative service controlled by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). In September 2007, in Armenia, 82 Jehovah's Witnesses were serving their sentences of two-three years in prison for refusing from military service.
In November 2012, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) obliged the Armenian authorities to pay 112,000 euros in favour of 19 Jehovah's Witnesses, who appealed against prison sentences for refusing to continue their alternative service.
On June 8, 2013, Armenia adopted amendments to the Law "On Alternative Service" to bring it in line with European standards.
The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Vardan Asatryan, the head of the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs, that all applicants chose to perform labour non-military service at nursing homes as caretakers and cleaners.
Vardan Asatryan has emphasized that the Armenia's adoption of the Law "On Alternative Service" has been dictated by the commitments assumed by Armenia as a member of the Council of Europe.
Author: Armine Martirosyan Source: CK correspondent
