Foreign Security Agencies Can Import Weapons to Accompany Officials Visiting Armenia

In order to ensure the safety and protection of individuals arriving in the Republic of Armenia on official visits, foreign security agencies and representatives are permitted to import, export, carry, and transfer weapons during their accompaniment. This decision was made at today's government meeting.

Immediately after obtaining information about the personal data of foreign security personnel, their entry and exit dates for the Republic of Armenia, and details regarding the quantity, types, numbers, and calibers of their weapons—including the quantity of military ammunition for each unit of imported (exported) weapons—the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia will notify the State Protection Service and the National Security Service in writing.

In the event of discrepancies regarding the quantity, types, numbers, and calibers of imported weapons, the State Protection Service will promptly inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will, in turn, immediately relay the information to the visiting party.

With written permission from the head of the State Protection Service, weapons of the quantity, types, numbers, and calibers specified in the permit may be imported through customs. The State Protection Service will immediately inform the customs authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the decision regarding granting or denying permission.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send the permission to the visiting party immediately after receiving it from the State Protection Service. If there is a discrepancy in the quantity, types, numbers, and calibers of the weapons mentioned in the permit for exported weaponry, the export of the entire batch of weapons will be suspended until necessary justifications are provided by the visiting party.

The carrying or transferring of weapons by foreign security agencies and representatives in a facility protected under the law “On Ensuring the Security of Persons under Special State Protection” shall be conducted under the supervision of the State Protection Service of the Republic of Armenia.