Armenian NSS to gradually assume full control of state borders

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Armenia intends to gradually transfer full control over its state borders to the Border Guard Troops of the National Security Service (NSS).

“I consider it important to emphasize that on November 1, we launched the biometric passport system in Armenia, which is a very significant and major reform. Today, we have introduced a system that meets all modern requirements and standards for biometric passports, and this system is very important on the path toward achieving visa liberalization with the EU. Of course, quite complex reforms are needed to address this issue because, if we want visa liberalization, it means that we must meet European Union standards in at least certain areas. In the context of addressing this issue, the necessary systems must be reformed, and I want to say that we are determined to pursue this path. What does this entail? In particular, it entails a certain transformation of the status of the border guard troops and means that, at least in the medium term, all state borders of the Republic of Armenia must be controlled by the relevant border guard service of Armenia. We have already addressed this topic in the Government Program as well, and we will move steadily along this path. You know that previously, our Border Guard Service did not even control all of the Republic of Armenia’s border crossing points. However, for several years now, all border crossing points in Armenia have been controlled exclusively by the Armenian border guard troops. And, of course, step by step, we will delegate control over the entire border of the Republic of Armenia to the Border Guard Service of the Republic of Armenia, which will also have to undergo a certain process of reform,” Prime Minister Pashinyan told members of parliament at a joint committee hearing on the 2027 state budget bill.

Since January 1, 2025, the Border Guard Troops of the NSS have been participating alongside Russian border guards in guarding the Armenia-Iran and Armenia-Türkiye state borders. At the border checkpoint on the Armenia-Iran state border, however, service is carried out entirely by the NSS Border Guard Troops. Since August 2024, the Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan has also been staffed exclusively by Armenian border guards, whereas Russian border guards had previously served there as well. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Guard Service has been guarding the Armenian side of the Armenia-Türkiye and Armenia-Iran state borders since 1992.

Speaking about biometric passports, Pashinyan said that one of the most visible and welcome developments related to them is that holders of biometric passports will soon be able to cross Armenia’s border through electronic gates (the e-gate system).

“What is special about this? There is no contact with any official. This system is already in operation in many countries. This opportunity will first be introduced at Zvartnots Airport and subsequently at all border crossing points in Armenia, without exception. Of course, later on, we will have to start negotiations to make these services available to Armenian citizens in other countries as well, because each country has its own specific regulations, and there is an agenda for making these services mutually available. What is the specific feature? There must be a comparative database of information. When a biometric passport is presented, the system must have something to compare it against to determine whether the person is indeed the person they claim to be. In Armenia’s case, when a citizen does this in their own country, there is no difficulty because all the systems are interoperable. When a citizen holds their passport up to the system, it quickly checks the information against the State Population Register using the biometric system to verify how accurately the data corresponds to reality. To use similar services in foreign countries, we need to establish a certain system for exchanging information with those countries, and that is already a matter of bilateral arrangements,” the Prime Minister said.