Armenia to re-establish interior ministry

The Armenian parliament has adopted a bill on the re-establishment of the Interior Ministry in the first reading.

Some 65 MPs voted in favour, 28 against the bill, according to Sputnik Armenia.

The draft of making appropriate changes to the law "On the Structure and Activity of the Government" was presented at a parliamentary session by Deputy Justice Minister Arpine Sargsyan.

She noted that the reforms imply expanding the possibilities of control over the police - both parliamentary and civil.

Moreover, the work of the police within the ministry will increase the guarantees of its apoliticality, Sargsyan added.

Besides the police, the rescue service (from the Ministry of Emergency Situations) and the state migration service (from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure) will operate as part of the Interior Ministry.

“As a result, we plan to create the police serving exclusively public interests,” Sargsyan said.

The police academy, which trains personnel, will continue its activity within the Interior Ministry, the deputy minister added.

The Armenian Interior Ministry was transformed into the police in 2003.