The Armenian parliament, by a vote of 71 to 35, today rejected to debate a bill that would obligate the government to provide compensation if a soldier were to be killed or injured in non-combat situations.

Bright Armenia MP Gevorg Gorgisyan, the bill’s sponsor, argued that if military service is compulsory, then the government is responsible for everything that happens to soldiers during their stint of service.

Standing Committee on Defense and Security Chair, Im Kayl MP Aren Mkrtchyan, said that his committee supports the idea of increasing the number of beneficiaries of military insurance, but that any change must be made on specific numerical calculations.

Mkrtchyan noted that as of now, families of soldiers killed during military operations as well as first and second-degree disabled servicemen are beneficiaries of the insurance fund.