The Armenian Border Guard (Armenian: Հայաստանի Սահմանային պահպանություն) is the branch of the National Security Service of Armenia that is responsible for monitoring and guarding Armenia's borders with neighbors Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and Georgia. The border guard works in conjunction with a Russian military contingent from the Federal Security Service stationed in Armenia and headquartered at the 102nd Military Base in Gyumri.[1][2]
Armenian Border Guard | |
---|---|
Հայաստանի Սահմանային պահպանություն | |
Founded | 26 April 1994 |
Country | ![]() |
Type | Border Patrol |
Role | Border guard |
Part of | ![]() |
Headquarters | Yerevan |
Nickname(s) | Frontier Guard |
Anniversaries | Border Guards Day – 26 April |
Infantry fighting vehicles | BMD-1 BMP-1 |
Commanders | |
Commander | Colonel Arman Maralchyan |
Chief of Staff of the Border Guard | Colonel Arman Gasparyan |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol | ![]() |
History
editThe border guard was initially subordinated to the Ministry of Defence when it was established on 28 January 1992 with the rest of the military. On 26 April 1994, the draft Law "On the State Border" was introduced by the National Assembly of Armenia.[3] Its charter was signed into law on 20 November 2001.[4] In 2004 it was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Security and Internal Affairs. The first general meeting of the Union of Veterans and Pensioners of the Border Guard Troops took place in late 2019.[5]
Mechanized equipment
editAs of 2022, the Ministry of National Security and Internal Affairs has its disposal 15 BMD-1s, 35 BMP-1s, 10 BRM-1Ks, 12 BTR-60s, 20 BTR-70s and UAV.[6]
Leadership
editCommanders
edit- General Yuri Khatchaturov (1992-2000)[7]
- Major General Armen Abrahamyan (November 2005-12 June 2018)[8]
- Colonel General Vaghinak Sargsyan (12 June 2018 – 26 October 2020)[9]
- Colonel Arman Maralchyan (since 26 October 2020)[10][11]
Chief of Staff of the Border Guard
editSee also
editNotes
edit- ^ Eaton, Mark. "Major Trends in Military Expenditure and Arms Acquisitions by the States of the Caspian Region" in The Security of the Caspian Sea Region. Gennadii Chufrin (ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001, pp. 89-90.
- ^ "Российские пограничники убили турецкого пастуха, обстрелявшего их на территории Армении". NEWSru.com. 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ "День пограничника Армении".
- ^ О ПОГРАНИЧНЫХ ВОЙСКАХ Archived 30 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The first meeting of the "Union of Veterans and Pensioners of the RA NSS Border Guard Troops"".
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2022. London: Routledge, 2022, p. 182.
- ^ "Хачатуров, Юрий Григорьевич". ТАСС. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ "Armen Abrahamyan". boghossianprize.am. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ Ordu. "Armenia Border Guard Troops have new commander". defence.az. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "Chief of Staff of NSS Border Guard Troops dismissed". armenpress.am. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ "Armenian government replaces commander of border troops". NEWS.ru. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ MENAFN. "Number of high-ranking Armenian officials dismissed from their posts within month". menafn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ "Chief of Staff of the NSS Border Troops Dismissed". armedia.am. Retrieved 2020-11-22.