Pashinyan highlights introduction of Use-of-Force Continuum in police reforms

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has called for the introduction of “clear and visible” standards regulating the use of force by law enforcement officers.

“It is highly important for us to have a clear and visible standard for the use of force in the logic of the ongoing police reforms,” Pashinyan said at the November 15 Cabinet meeting. “This is important for both sides, because there is a question in many cases, when police receive objections regarding the use of force in many cases I feel like the officers don’t understand it, saying they were doing their job. In a way they are right, but those who say that it [use of force] must have a certain type, degree and limit are also right. Upon looking into this matter we see that there is no standard for the use of force in our country.”

He said the situations when police is entitled to use force must be clear and understandable for everyone.

The Cabinet also approved the 2024-2026 Action Plan of the Police Reforms Strategy.