The Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Edward Asryan, has denied accusations that the military has specifically called up opposition politicians and their supporters for regular reserve musters as a “punitive measure.”
“The military has never been a punitive measure. You ought to be proud of the military, where our sons are serving,” the top general told reporters.
He said the reserve musters have been a routine initiative since 2023 and that tens of thousands of citizens registered in the reserve have been called up regularly.
Earlier media reports alleged that Armenians arriving from Russia, who were purportedly involved in a vote-swaying scheme involving a brief visit to cast ballots for the opposition, were being summoned for the musters at the airport.
“Regardless of the country from which they arrive, if an Armenian citizen who is subject to military registration enters the country and their arrival is recorded by the relevant systems, the military commissariat has the authority to send them an electronic notice regarding their conscription for military training exercises,” the general said on the matter.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2026/06/10/top-general-denies-claims-of-politically-motivated-reserve-call-ups/