Armenia’s Ministry of Defense has proposed legislative amendments that would expand the military police’s operational powers, including monitoring telephone and internet communications, creating fictitious organizations and using cover documents, Factor.am reports.
Under the proposal, communications monitoring would be subject to the same general legal requirements that apply to the police, penitentiary authorities and the Anti-Corruption Committee.
The ministry argues that existing legal powers are insufficient to effectively prevent, detect and investigate crimes within the armed forces, particularly serious and especially serious offenses.
According to the draft’s explanatory memorandum, mobile phones and internet communications are increasingly used to organize crimes, conceal evidence and coordinate illegal activities.
The ministry cited drug and weapons trafficking, ammunition offenses, theft of military property and crimes involving public officials as examples of cases requiring more extensive investigative capabilities.
The proposed powers could also be used to investigate extortion, cases of driving service members to suicide, violations of military regulations governing relations between personnel and behavior associated with criminal subcultures.
The amendments would additionally authorize military police to establish fictitious organizations and use cover documents prepared by national security agencies to protect the confidentiality of undercover operations.
According to the Defense Ministry, the changes would strengthen the prevention and investigation of offenses within the armed forces.
The proposals remain draft legislation and have not yet entered into force.
