Special Ambulance Vehicle Designated for Serving Armenian State Officials

One of the 39 ambulances donated by the Japanese government will be handed over to the National Security Service of Armenia, as decided by the government, with the purpose of being operated by the State Protection Service.

A special ambulance vehicle will be allocated to serve Armenian state officials, which will not be operated by the Ambulance Service but rather by the State Protection Service (SPS). This decision was adopted by the government of Armenia without prior report or discussion.

The Japanese government has donated 39 ambulances of the 2022 model Toyota HIACE 2.8 D to Armenia. Of these, 38 will be passed on to the Ambulance Service Company, and one to the SPS.

According to the government statement, “For the implementation of the functions of the State Protection Service, namely to ensure the provision of medical assistance and services to respective state officials, one of the 39 ambulances of the 2022 model Toyota HIACE 2.8 D donated by the government of Japan to the Republic of Armenia is being allocated to the National Security Service for operation by the State Protection Service,” as published on the government’s website.

According to government estimates, as a result of these changes, the vehicle fleet of the Ambulance Service Company will be reinforced with 50 ambulances produced between 2020 and 2022. The Ministry of Health will receive 40 ambulances produced in 2011 and 2018, while the NSS will acquire one ambulance from 2022.