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The certification scheme in the Armenian military offered by the government contains risks, MP Seyran Ohanyan, the head of the largest opposition Hayastan faction in the Armenian parliament, claims.

Speaking at the parliamentary debates on the government-drafted amendments to the laws on the status of servicemen and their salaries at a session on Wednesday, Ohanyan, a former defense minister, said the new measure “links the whole attestation process to bonuses”.

He insisted that it would create unequal conditions for servicemen and could have a negative impact on their professionalism, depriving them of motivation for further growth and promotion.

“The Hayastan faction believes it is wrong and has submitted its proposals in this regard. We have noted that the certification and additional payments based on that principle will lead to an outflow of personnel from the armed forces and the creation of unequal conditions, including during hostilities," Ohanyan explained.

The parliament passed the package of bills in the second reading in a vote of 65 for and none against. Opposition MPs abstained from voting.