Police of Armenia

The Police of the Republic of Armenia (Armenian: Հայաստանի Հանրապետության ոստիկանություն) is the national police of Armenia. The acting head is Vahe Ghazaryan, in office since 8 June 2020.
History.
The first police service of Armenia was formed in 1918, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the First Republic of Armenia. On April 21, 1920, a "Militia" was formed in Yerevan based on the Soviet model. It was later renamed to the People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the Armenian SSR or the NKVD of the Armenian SSR, which was the Armenian subordinate to the NKVD headquarters in Moscow. In 1929, the NKVD of the Armenian SSR was dissolved and was reestablished in July 1934 as a reorganized political department. During World War II, the present-day building of the Armenian Police was built. The Armenian Regiment of Interior Forces of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs was established in 1963, and the Headquarters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Armenian SSR was founded in 1965. The Police Academy of Armenia, which was then the Secondary School of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was founded in 1984. On June 21, 1992 by order of President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia was formed from the former Soviet Internal Troops. The ministry was active until December 2002, when the ministry, along with the Ministry of National Security, was reorganised into a non-ministerial institution, with the Ministry of Internal Affairs becoming the Police of the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian Ministry of Justice recommended the re-establishment of the ministry headed by a cabinet member in a three-year strategy of police reforms proposed to the government in 2019. As part of a major structural reform of the national police service, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced plans to recreate the Interior Ministry.
Leadership.
The activities of the police are directed by the chief of the police, who is appointed by the president of Armenia at the nomination of the prime minister of Armenia. The chief has one first deputy and several deputies, appointed by the president upon nomination by the chief.
The commander of the police troops is appointed by the president and serves as ex officio deputy chief of the police. Each of the deputy chiefs is assigned a sphere of responsibility by the chief of police, who is also assisted by a group of Advisers.
Structure.
The Police are organised into the Central Body, and 11 geographic divisions.
Central Body.
The Departments of the Central Body are:
NCB.
The NCB is divided into three divisions:
Public Relations and Press Department.
The Committee of Public Relations (part of the Public Relations and Press Department) was founded on 21 March 1994.
The department also maintains a 42-member Police Band ("Հայաստանի ոստիկանության նվագախումբը", "Vostikanutyan Nvagaxumb") based in Yerevan which is currently led by Baghdasar Grigoryan. The band was created on 1 August 1972. It performs similar functions to the Band of the Armenian Army General Staff, taking part in the most important events of the police and the state. In 2019, it performed at the graduation party of Dubai Police Academy.
Regional Divisions.
There is one police department for the city of Yerevan, and one for each of the 10 Provinces.
Police Troops.
The Armenian Police Troops () are composed mainly of personnel from the former Special Forces Special Forces (SDFs) and the Rapid Reaction Forces (SDFs), who have actively participated in all combat operations carried out by the former Armenian Internal Troops and the Soviet Internal Troops. On 21 June 1992, the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were formed by decree of Levon Ter-Petrosyan. The day of formation of the police troops is celebrated every year, on 21 June. In February 1999 the Deputy Minister of the Interior and Commander of the Internal Troops, Major General Artsrun Makarian, was found shot dead. On 14 December 2004, the Internal Troops were renamed to the Police Troops. In 2009, there was a transition from conscription to contract service. In 2013 the International Institute for Strategic Studies attributed the force with four paramilitary battalions, 55 AIFV including 44 BMP-1, and 24 wheeled armoured personnel carriers.
The military units of the Internal Troops of the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs had a wide range of activities: including the protection of special facilities, maintenance of public order, public security service, preliminary training of conscripts, and training of non-commissioned officers. The Internal Troops had an helicopter (aviation) unit, which, being provided with appropriate helicopters, performed various transportation services during combat operations.
Uniforms and equipment.
Decrees passed in October 2002 and April 2003 set the rules for police officers' uniforms. Police personnel are armed primarily with Soviet-made firearms and ammunition, including Makarov PM and Tokarev TT-33 handguns, and AKS, AKM, and AK-74 automatic rifles.
Holiday.
Celebrated on 16 April, Police Workers Day () in Armenia commemorates personnel of the Police Central Body and the Police Troops. It was first celebrated in 2002 and was introduced year earlier by the National Assembly of Armenia. Traditionally, the President of Armenia and/or the Prime Minister of Armenia receives the salute at a ceremony in the Yerevan police headquarters.