Live: Defense Minister and Senior Officials Visit Yerablur

Today, January 28, is the Day of the Formation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia. 30 years ago, the independent Republic of Armenia, alongside the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, embarked on the creation of a national army, a process that was crucially influenced by the Declaration of Independence of 1990. At this moment, the Defense Minister and senior officials have visited Yerablur.

The formation of the army of the Third Republic of Armenia has gone through several stages. The first stage lasted from February 1988 until May 1992. During this period, amid the intensification of the Nagorno-Karabakh movement and the extreme escalation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, ensuring the military security of the populations of Armenia and Artsakh became more than urgent.

The second stage lasted from June 1992 until May 1994. During this time, the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh were subjected to aggression from Azerbaijan.

The third stage began in June 1994 and continues to this day. Significant efforts have been made during this time for army construction, enhancing troop readiness, strengthening discipline, training and retraining officer and non-commissioned officers, as well as ensuring certain progress in civil-military relations.

In September 1990, the special unit of Yerevan was formed, while five companies were established in Ararat, Goris, Vardenis, Ijevan, and Meghri. In 1991, by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the State Defense Committee was established under the Council of Ministers.

On this day in 1992, January 28, the Government adopted a resolution on the "Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia," thereby legally announcing the creation of the Armenian national army. The newly formed ministry took over the patrol units of the militia of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the special operations unit, the civil defense unit, and the republican military commissariat.

Shortly thereafter, the central apparatus of the Ministry of Defense was established, including the General Staff, departments, and separate divisions. In May 1992, the Ministry of Defense began its first conscription on the territory of the republic, laying the foundation for a stable tradition of replenishing the army with conscripts.