PM Pashinyan attends solemn session of the collegium dedicated to the Police anniversary

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in a solemn session of the collegium at the Ministry of Internal Affairs dedicated to the 107th anniversary of the Police.

Before the session, Pashinyan and Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan laid flowers at the memorial plaque in the courtyard of the Police building and paid tribute to the memory of policemen who sacrificed their lives for the motherland.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, during the session, Pashinyan delivered a speech, congratulated all police officers, and thanked them for their service.

The Prime Minister emphasized that “the police is one of the most important pillars of the state.”

According to him, over the past seven years, 121 billion drams (around $300 million) have been allocated from the state budget of the Republic of Armenia for police reforms, along with substantial contributions from international partners.

Recalling the reforms implemented in the police and patrol service, Pashinyan noted that although new cars, equipment, uniforms, and physical infrastructure are already in place, these are not ends in themselves but means to a greater goal.

“All of this should serve to change people, because a new car means nothing if the person driving or using that car hasn’t changed. In other words, if the equipment has changed but the person has not, it makes no sense. Today, more than ever, I want to draw everyone’s attention to this,” the Prime Minister said, adding that all of these efforts are aimed at changing the perception of work.

“Our demands regarding the quality of the work we do should grow every day, otherwise the investments made will be meaningless.”

The Prime Minister emphasized that this approach applies not only to police officers and civil servants but also to all citizens.

“We need a fundamental change in our collective attitude toward the state and our legal system. Recently, during my meetings with citizens, I’m often asked: ‘Why do we behave one way in Armenia and differently when we’re in another country—say, in Europe or the U.S.?’ What is the explanation for this? I don’t want to elaborate too much, but the reason lies in our attitude toward the state. We treat the Republic of Armenia in one way and treat other states much more seriously. This is a fundamental problem, and it’s reflected in all of us,” said Pashinyan.

Stressing that the police, as an institution, is the most visible component of the country’s internal security and defense, the Prime Minister said the reforms reflect the government’s attitude toward public service, uniform, the symbols of the state.

“It is very important that the same attitude is demonstrated by the police—and we must also ensure that the same attitude is shown by the citizen. Yes, citizens must respect the state and public service, but that respect must be earned and maintained by the service every day.”

In his speech, the Prime Minister also addressed the development of the criminal police and community police, and spoke about the establishment of the police guard.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister once again congratulated all those present, expressed gratitude for their work, and emphasized that reform is a continuous process that must deliver tangible interim results.

On the occasion of Police Day, a number of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia were awarded the Prime Minister’s commemorative medal and certificate of appreciation for their contribution to maintaining law and order, as well as for their dedication and high level of professional training in fulfilling their official duties.