In an attempt to eliminate some infamous habits and customs deeply-rooted in the Armenian army the Defense Ministry has submitted a draft law to the parliament's approval.

Titled "Disciplinary Code of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia" the bill is expected to introduce some reforms in the Discipline Code.

During parliamentary hearings held over the proposal today Deputy Defense Minister Ara Nazaryan told journalists that first of all the bill clarifies the types of the discipline penalties and encouragements for all the military staff.

Interestingly, the bill has also a novelty: a provision empowers the soldiers to refuse performing instructions that run counter Armenia's Constitution and laws. The bill has some other provisions set to bring changes in the non-statutory relations among the military.

It comes after the two consecutive incidents that occurred in the army recently and left 8 people dead due to non-statutory relations among the military staff.

Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs at the National Assembly, Hrayr Karapetyan said that up to day the relations among the military staff were being regulated based on the Disciplinary Code adopted in 1996, which included many provisions from the Soviet-era army.

"The new bill proposed is significant in the sense that all the relations in the armed forces are regulated by the law, that is to say, it is the law that stipulates the duties and liabilities of the officers and the soldiers," said he.

Tert.am