Police Provide Clarification Regarding Bonuses

In recent days, public statements and media publications regarding bonuses for the personnel of the Police of the Republic of Armenia, as well as surveys conducted over the last one or two days, have created an unnecessary impression of an extraordinary incident occurring within the police system. This is unnecessary because bonuses within the police system are not a new phenomenon.

Bonuses have been given both before and after the adoption of the law on "Compensation for Positions Held by State Officials and Public Service Employees" (which came into force on July 1, 2014). Specifically, since the law came into effect, personnel in the system have been awarded bonuses up to one official salary coefficient three times in 2015-2016, twice in 2007, and three times in 2018, two of which were in April and one in December.

Since 2019, a monthly bonus system has been implemented; however, a one-time cash bonus up to one official salary coefficient has also been granted at the end of the year.

In the same manner, for 2020-2021, in addition to monthly bonuses, one-time cash bonuses up to one official salary coefficient were also provided twice.

In May of the current year, in addition to the monthly bonus, a bonus up to one official salary coefficient was also provided. As a result, the average monthly salary of police officers, including monthly and one-time awarded bonuses, amounted to 283,000 drams, with a net amount of 218,100 drams, which is comparable to last year's figures of 281,000 drams and a net amount of 217,700 drams.

In summary, it should also be noted that both monthly and one-time bonuses that form part of the salary compensation are given in accordance with the government’s policy in this field, exclusively to enhance the attractiveness of service in the police and to minimize possible manifestations of corruption, in compliance with the procedures, conditions, and amounts defined by law.