Opposition MP: defense cuts follow Baku’s demands

Opposition lawmaker and and representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Supreme Body in Armenia Ishkhan Saghatelyan claimed that reducing Armenia’s defense budget and shortening compulsory service are in line with Azerbaijan’s demands, not accidental policy shifts.

“This is yet another demand that Armenia’s armed forces be restricted, armament limited, and the army demilitarized. Authorities now move in that direction, presenting it as a peace initiative,” Saghatelyan told Pastinfo.

He argued that by consistently implementing such steps, the government portrays concessions as peace efforts, while in reality, they serve the enemy’s agenda.

“The enemy is on Armenia’s sovereign territory and keeps presenting new demands. What kind of peace is this? When we warn that continuous concessions won’t bring peace, we’re accused of being pro-war. But the real threats come from our enemies and today’s authorities,” he said.

Saghatelyan criticized officials for not addressing Azerbaijan or Turkey with the same harsh tone they use against the opposition: “Every time they meet Aliyev or Erdogan, they bow, lick their boots, and then return to shout at the opposition here with even greater arrogance.”

The government has proposed cutting compulsory military service from two years to 1.5 years starting with the summer 2026 draft. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has also signaled that defense spending may not increase in 2026, noting that in 2025, expenditures already grew disproportionately compared to 2024, with part of the funds covering future debts and obligations.

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