Armenia’s Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan announced in the National Assembly that the volunteer militia will be replaced by territorial defense forces. He outlined the program's purpose and features.

“It is planned to replace the current volunteer militia system with territorial defense forces. The tasks, roles, principles of governance, structure, and recruitment process for these units are defined. The overall command of the territorial defense forces will be carried out by the corps commander, and they will be incorporated into the units operating under the command of the military formation as support units,” Sargsyan emphasized, as reported by Aysor.am.

These forces are intended to be staffed by citizens registered in communities who are not assigned to wartime positions, as well as individuals in the second reserve group or those removed from military registration.

Recruitment will be voluntary and based on a special contract, which will not be considered a military service agreement.

“The conditions for citizens’ involvement, training, and use within the territorial defense force units are also defined and are largely identical to those stipulated for the volunteer militia under the current law,” the Deputy Minister added.

He stressed that the system aims to enhance security levels and improve coordination.