Armenia Launches New Police Guard Service

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the launch ceremony of the Police Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This is reported by the Government. The Prime Minister, accompanied by Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan, first familiarized himself with the technical means and new armament of the Police Guard, which complies with international standards. The event was also attended by representatives of legislative and executive bodies, and ambassadors accredited in Armenia.

The Prime Minister congratulated those present and thanked the Guard's officers for their service to date: "From today, we are opening a new page in history, and our expectation is that the Police Guard will be a qualitatively new service for the Republic of Armenia, for the citizens, and for the officers themselves. And, of course, this is an important stage for the reforms of the Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs system."

Thanking the officers of the Police Guard again for their service in the preceding period, the Prime Minister wished everyone success and noted: "May serving in the Police Guard become more honorable with each passing month, more comfortable with each passing month, may the social guarantees for the Police and the Police Guard officers continue to develop, so that the Police Guard officer knows that they are adequately compensated for their service. And we will develop this process, interconnected with the individual, service, and professional qualities of each person. And that is a path we are taking and which we must take together."

The same statement also provided additional details about the Police Guard. Accordingly, it is one of the four pillar directions of the police and will contribute to strengthening Armenia's internal security system through more targeted and focused tools. With new armament complying with international standards and a trained staff, the Police Guard will be entrusted with maintaining public order and ensuring public security. The Police Guard will operate as a full-fledged structure, not being a legal successor to any police unit.

The main tasks of the Police Guard are: maintaining public order and ensuring public security, protecting objects of critical state importance subject to state protection, as well as ensuring the security of transporting special cargo, participating in ensuring the legal regime of martial law and a state of emergency, as well as protecting the population in emergency situations, assisting in ensuring the security of persons subject to special state protection, and supporting the bodies conducting criminal proceedings.

With the formation of the Police Guard, a new standard corresponding to international criteria for the use of force will come into effect for the first time, concerning the cases, grounds, and conditions of proportionality for the application of physical force, special means, firearms, and special equipment. Without appropriate special training, a Guard officer will not have the right to use means of force.

The formation of the Police Guard is also intended to help make the realization of the right to freedom of assembly more organized. The legislative initiative for the creation of the structure has received a positive assessment from international expertise; it is aimed at ensuring internal stability and solidarity.