State Protection Service to become independent from National Security Service

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. The State Protection Service will become a separate agency independent from the National Security Service and will be subordinate to the Prime Minister, while the lifetime protection for former presidents and former prime ministers will be replaced with 7 and 10 years respectively, with the possibility of further extension, according to a bill presented to the parliamentary committee on defense and security.

In addition, the bill also envisages state protection for the family members of the Speaker of Parliament, whereas the current law provides security details to the families of only the prime minister and president.

The requirements for Chief of the State Protection Service will also be changed, enabling both civilians and military officials to be appointed to the position.

Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan said that the government decided to separate the State Protection Service from the National Security Service because “at this moment there is a political decision that the National Security Service must have three main functions – counterintelligence, protection of constitutional order and anti-terrorism.”

The committee approved the bill and it will be debated at the plenary session of parliament on December 9.