Opposition’s proposed civilian oversight for security bodies fails to pass parliament

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. A bill authored by the opposition Bright Armenia (LHK) party seeking to change the way heads of police and National Security Service are appointed failed to pass parliament with only 19 lawmakers voting in favor and 89 voting it down.

The bill initially passed first hearing but then a parliamentary committee rejected it.

The ruling My Step bloc had announced it is against the bill.

By current law, the Director of the National Security Service and the National Police Commissioner can only be appointed from within their own ranks.

The proposed amendment to the laws regulating the appointment envisaged making the abovementioned positions “political” ones, defining for candidates to the posts the same requirements which candidates for parliament must meet.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan