“He belongs in the system.” Pashinyan introduced Arpine Sargsyan to the staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

“He belongs in the system, he is familiar with the process of reforms.” At the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan introduced the newly appointed minister Arpine Sargsyan today, wishing him success “on the occasion of assuming this responsible position”.

Yesterday, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, taking the seat of the deposed Vahe Ghazaryan.

Today, Pashinyan expressed hope that the Police, the Rescue Service, other units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be involved in the reform process at the same pace.

“For me, it is extremely important to anchor the further activities of the ministry on all the adopted principles, which the government has adopted as a guideline since 2018,” said Sargsyan in turn, thanking for the high trust.

30-year-old Sargsyan held public positions from an early age. At the age of 22, in 2016, during Serzh Sargsyan’s presidency, he was the assistant to the Deputy Minister of Justice. In 2019-2022, he held various positions in the Ministry of Justice, coordinating anti-corruption bodies, leading the Police Reform Group, participating in the implementation of the Police Reform Strategy, and the creation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. From January 2022, by Prime Minister Pashinyan’s decision, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice, and already in 2023, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

Today, Pashinyan thanked Vahe Ghazaryan for his work, stressing that as a long-time police officer, he made a great contribution to the reform of the Police and later also to the formation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Covid, war, complex situations resulting from them. it was during this difficult period that Ghazaryan began his tenure, Pashinyan noted, stressing that his work deserves high praise.

The Prime Minister said that he has known Ghazaryan for 37 years, they are childhood friends, who both helped and hindered in some issues.

On the 10th day of Nikol Pashinyan’s prime ministership, Ghazaryan became the head of the Dilijan Police Department, the head of the regional department, a year later he was the commander of the police forces, deputy police chief, then he was already the police chief, and after the structural changes, he was appointed the minister of internal affairs. He left the post on November 18.

The head of the executive asked a number of high-ranking officials to leave their positions, noting that the reasons are not personal, but systemic, about which he spoke publicly a few days ago. in the November 15 session of the government, he particularly complained about the law enforcement system.

Two days after Pashinyan’s announcement, 6 resignations were announced, Vahe Ghazaryan, Chairman of the Investigative Committee Argishti Kyaramyan, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Committee Sasun Khachatryan, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Republic of Armenia Karen Andreasyan, Chairman of the SRC Rustam Badasyan, Minister of Economic and Social Affairs Gnel Sanosyan left their positions.