An External Intelligence Service Will Be Established in Armenia

Armenia will have an External Intelligence Service. Today, the draft law was completely adopted by the National Assembly in the second reading. A total of 67 deputies voted in favor, while 33 were against.

An intelligence community will be formed in Armenia, and the external intelligence service will play a crucial role in that community. The service will be an agency subordinate to the Prime Minister, and its head will become a member of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia.

Considering the fact that there are existing departments within the Ministry of Defense and the National Security Service that perform similar functions, which operate as military services, a political decision has been made to create a new type of civil service that will not be a military service, according to 24news.am.

The newly established agency will also be staffed by public servants from other government departments, who will contribute their experience, knowledge, and professionalism to the establishment of the External Intelligence Service.

Three years after the establishment of the intelligence service, other bodies and units conducting external intelligence activities will cease such operations. Citizens with a history of deliberate criminal offenses will not be able to serve in the External Intelligence Service.

“In the long term, this institution will serve Armenia, and if any politician envisions themselves long-term in politics, it is essential to give significant importance to the establishment of this institution,” stated Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia.