Video: Citizens Expect a New Quality of Order in Yerevan Streets Due to Patrol Service, Says Pashinyan

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by the Chief of Police Vahe Ghazaryan, visited the police patrol service base early in the morning. This was reported by the press office of the Prime Minister of Armenia.

Before the new patrol service officers commenced their duties, Nikol Pashinyan attended their formation inspection. The Acting Prime Minister addressed those present, stating: “Esteemed Chief of Police of the Republic of Armenia, Deputy Chiefs of Police, respected members of the Patrol Service, congratulations to all of us on the launch of the Patrol Police Service. This is one of the most significant reforms of our government, which fits within the framework of police reform. However, we must consider this in a broader context regarding law and order, state-citizen relations, and the dynamics of police reform.

Here, I would like to describe two parallel processes: the first is the protection of legality and law and order in the Republic of Armenia, and the second is the cooperation and mutual assistance between the police and citizens in the context of protecting law and order and legality. The Patrol Service of the Republic of Armenia is one of the most important symbols of this formulation.

Today, the police present themselves in a new light, equipped with new technical means and professional skills. The result of this should be a new quality of law and order in the Republic of Armenia, particularly in the capital city of Yerevan, as the Patrol Police Service begins its operations in the capital.

The people of Armenia have given the government a mandate to establish a dictatorship of law and legality, and as a result of the Patrol Police Service, citizens should see a new quality of law and order in the streets of Yerevan. This is the crucial mission that you must fulfill.

We must note, however, that law and order, the dictatorship of law and legality, is established not only through penalties and sanctions but also by guiding, supporting, and assisting citizens so that they can adapt and act correctly in a particular situation within the logic of law and legality.

On the other hand, citizens must see that law and legality are phenomena that come to their assistance and support, not create obstacles for them. This is where mutual encounters, assistance, and mutual benefit must occur.

Every citizen of the Republic of Armenia should see and recognize that the law and the state’s authority, the strength of the people’s sovereignty, determination, and consistency are the foundations upon which our state stands, our law and order rests, and the relationships between citizens and the state are based.

Respected members of the Patrol Police, once again, congratulations to all of us and to you on the launch of this new service. Of course, in the early days, the service will present many new challenges and shortcomings, which we will correct along the way. However, I want to emphasize that it is crucial that most of the personnel in the Patrol Service are individuals who have not previously served in the police, alongside a significant portion of individuals who have years of experience in police service. This blend of experience and freshness should bring a new quality to our police, to law and order in the Republic of Armenia, and to the streets of Yerevan.

We will continue this process, and the Patrol Police must expand to all regions of the Republic, all cities, all villages, and all localities, creating new quality relationships between the police and the citizens.

I congratulate all of you and thank everyone who worked to implement and realize this crucial reform. Thank you, and I wish you all a good and efficient service.

Subsequently, Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by Vahe Ghazaryan, familiarized himself with the equipment of the new patrol service vehicles, which are equipped with modern technological and special means. The Acting Prime Minister also laid flowers at the memorial dedicated to police officers who lost their lives while performing their duties.