Our Goal Should Be to Become the Safest Country: Nikol Pashinyan

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs on January 10 to discuss the agency's performance report for 2023. This was reported by the Government of Armenia.

Interior Minister Vahe Ghazaryan and his deputies presented their work in coordination, priorities, and key areas, also addressing the reforms and initiatives undertaken by the ministry. It was reported that extensive work has been carried out during the reporting period towards the full formation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In 2023, the charters and structures of the ministry and three subordinate state bodies were approved, and the staff composition of the ministry was optimized, totaling 629 positions, based on the principles of effective management and eliminating redundancy in functions.

The vast majority of the structural subdivisions of the ministry have already been established and are operating in an open and transparent competitive format.

With the formation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, non-police functions (particularly public services provided by the state) have been transferred to the ministry. During the reporting period, an Artashat service registration and examination division was established, offering new solutions and approaches that comply with international standards.

As part of the police structural reform, the agency will develop as a professional structure in four main directions: Criminal Police, Patrol Service, Police Guard, and Community Police. Regional police departments will be abolished, and units in Yerevan and regional areas will have their territorial subdivisions for vertical and effective management; legislative and structural changes, management schemes, and visions for new technical equipment have been clarified.

In 2023, the Patrol Service, as a new and modern model of external service, was fully implemented throughout the republic. The Patrol Service is equipped with completely new material and technical resources, including 631 vehicles, 75 of which were provided by the European Union.

Addressing the issue of the activities of new personnel in the Patrol Service and the overall system, the Prime Minister stated: “Our understanding is that in the long term, the only way to work in the Police should be through the Patrol Police. This means that anyone wanting to work in the Police should start from the Patrol Police and then undergo further training at each educational level.”

It was emphasized that operational management centers had also been established in each region to support the work of the Patrol Service. These centers serve as points for receiving alerts from citizens, provide necessary consultations, and if needed, dispatch patrol units to ensure rapid police assistance to individuals in difficult situations.

A Water Patrol Service has been launched in Lake Sevan and its coastal areas, aimed at implementing the vision of having a safe and secure Lake Sevan. The Water Patrol Service has been equipped with boats, scooters, radio communications tools, and service vehicles designed for transporting water equipment, along with the construction and outfitting of modular buildings.

To promote the involvement of female patrol officers, a new recruitment campaign has been announced, with the majority of positions allocated for female applicants. As a result of the recruitment process, 140 women participated in the exams conducted for joining the service.

During the previous year, the National Assembly passed legislative packages aimed at redefining Community Police and transforming the Criminal Police. Civilian individuals are also eligible to apply for job openings announced for staffing the Criminal Police. Appointments to the position of criminal police officer will be conducted through educational programs at the Ministry of Internal Affairs training complex.

It has been reported that the concept for forming the Police Guard has been approved for 2023, and the drafts of related laws have undergone public discussion and received positive assessments from international reviews. The new law will eliminate the dual status of the Police Guard, which will operate solely as a police service, removing it from the status of “other troops.” This will also improve civil and parliamentary oversight of the police guard.

During the reporting period, legislative changes were made allowing police officers to undergo certification and receive additional payments besides their salaries. Based on the results of the certification, police officers can double their financial compensation. The results of police sector reforms have also led to increased public trust in the police. According to a public opinion study conducted by the International Republican Institute's Survey Research Center from January to March 2023, the Armenian Police ranked second among state institutions, with a 58% satisfaction rate from the population regarding the work of Armenian institutions.

According to the summarized data on the