Sargsyan on Reports of Not Accepting Artsakh Residents into the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Blue passports have been issued to our compatriots from Artsakh as travel documents, but they are not documents certifying citizenship, and this has also been noted in European court rulings. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan in a conversation with reporters after a government meeting.

Addressing the question of why a resident of Artsakh cannot work in the patrol service, Sargsyan noted, 'They must obtain Armenian citizenship because that is a legislative requirement, and only then can they apply without hindrance. The blue passports have been stated to be issued for travel purposes both in various international platforms and in domestic processes, so that there are no issues after leaving the region. However, I want to emphasize that blue passports are not documents proving citizenship.'

Commenting on reports that there is a clear directive from the government head not to accept Artsakh residents into the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sargsyan stated, 'I assure you that such an instruction does not exist, because those who serve in the police meet the legislative requirements for police service.'