Armenia Suspends Its Military Draft
The Parliament of Soviet Armenia voted Thursday to follow the example of rebel Lithuania and suspend the spring draft of young men into the Soviet armed forces, the unofficial news agency Interfax said.
The move, which seemed certain to anger the Kremlin, was made at a session of the Armenian Supreme Soviet (Parliament). The lawmakers also demanded the guaranteeing of links between the republic and the disputed Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“The Supreme Soviet of Armenia decided . . . to suspend the spring draft of young people in Armenia until the creation of necessary conditions for the carrying out of military service for Armenians and guarantees of their safety,” it said.
Young Armenians, like their fellow recruits from the Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, complain of discrimination and intimidation while serving in the Soviet army.
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