Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced plans to gradually transfer control of the country’s entire state border to Armenia’s border guard service. He made the statement in the National Assembly.
The prime minister emphasized that the government was determined to pursue this course, Armenpress reports.
“I consider it important to emphasize that on November 1, we launched the biometric passport system in Armenia, which represents a very significant and major reform. We have now introduced a system that meets all modern requirements and standards for biometric passports, and this system is extremely important on the path toward achieving visa liberalization with the European Union.
“Of course, addressing this issue requires fairly complex reforms because, if we want visa liberalization, it means that we must meet European Union standards in at least certain areas. The relevant systems must be reformed in this context, and I want to say that we are determined to follow this path.
“What does this entail? In particular, it entails certain changes to the status of the Border Guard Troops and ensuring that, at least in the medium term, all state borders of the Republic of Armenia are controlled by Armenia’s relevant border guard service,” he said.
The prime minister added that the issue had been addressed in the government’s program and that the authorities would proceed gradually and consistently.
“As you know, previously our border guard service did not even control all of Armenia’s border crossing points. However, for several years now, all border crossing points in Armenia have been controlled exclusively by Armenian Border Guard Troops.
“And, of course, step by step, we will delegate control of the entire border of the Republic of Armenia to Armenia’s border guard service, which will also have to undergo a certain process of reform,” Nikol Pashinyan said.
Speaking about biometric passports, Pashinyan said one of the most visible and welcome developments associated with their introduction was that holders would soon be able to cross Armenia’s state border through automated electronic gates using the e-gate system.
Since January 1, 2025, the Border Guard Troops of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) have participated alongside Russian Federation border guards in protecting the Armenia-Iran and Armenia-Turkey state borders. At the same time, border control operations at the Armenia-Iran state border checkpoint have been carried out entirely by the NSS Border Guard Troops.
Since August 2024, border control duties at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport have been performed exclusively by Armenian border guards. Previously, Russian border guards also served there. Border guards of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) have been responsible for protecting the Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Iran state borders on the Armenian side since 1992.
