In early 2023, three Armenian non-governmental organizations caused a stir by announcing their departure from the Police Reform Coordinating Council of Armenia. This bold move sparked intense debates and discussions. The NGOs made their decision in response to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's appointment of Vahe Ghazaryan, a long-serving member of the police force, as the minister of the newly established Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to the NGOs, Ghazaryan's leadership signifies a resistance to the implemented reforms, effectively blocking any possibility of achieving a genuine, comprehensive, and impactful police reform.

Police reforms were a key agenda item for the revolutionary forces that came to power in Armenia in 2018. The United States and the European Union provided support in terms of technical expertise, financial assistance, and knowledge sharing to facilitate the reform process. 

In April 2020, the Armenian government approved a police reform strategy and an action plan for 2020-2022.

Following the approval of the strategy, the establishment of a coordinating council for police reforms was deemed necessary. This council commenced its operations in August 2020, involving various state entities alongside four influential non-governmental organizations: the "Union of Informed Citizens," the "Helsinki Citizens' Assembly-Vanadzor," "Driver's Friend," and the "Armenian Association of Lawyers," all of which had been instrumental in shaping the strategy.

"Until the end of 2022, the Ministry of Justice of Armenia took on the primary responsibility for implementing the reforms, demonstrating a commendable level of openness and alignment with our objectives. However, the situation was entirely different when it came to the police, as they have persistently resisted change," explains Daniel Ioannisyan, Programs Coordinator of the “Union of Informed Citizens” and a council representative.

Ioannisyan highlights the active participation of three key NGOs in the process: the "Union of Informed Citizens," the "Helsinki Citizens' Assembly-Vanadzor," and "Driver's Friend." Since September 2021, a subordinate working group, consisting of NGOs, the Ministry of Justice, the police, and two American state agencies (Icitap and INL), has been meeting on a weekly basis to discuss various matters. Special groups have been formed on specific occasions as well. These three NGOs were also involved in the interviews conducted for the newly formed patrol service reception committees.

The council, headed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, conducted regular meetings. During these council meetings, attended by a diverse group of members, the police would provide progress reports, while the "Union of Informed Citizens" would present what could be considered an "alternative report." This report would highlight key issues that served as a starting point for discussions, as stated by the NGO representative.

When asked about the ways in which the police expressed resistance to the reforms, Ioannisyan explains that it took various forms. “At times, resistance was evident when agreed-upon actions were not implemented as planned. Other times, it was manifested through a simple refusal to cooperate on certain matters.”

According to Ioannisyan, during their work, they were consistently convinced that there were only a few officials in high positions within the police who shared the idea of reforms.

"The motivations behind the resistance were also varied. Some individuals were involved in corruption and were resistant to change, while others simply preferred to remain within their comfort zones. There were also those who couldn't envision alternative ways of organizing the service and achieving positive outcomes because they hadn't been exposed to alternatives," explains Ioannisyan. He also highlights that throughout the process, they noticed that Nikol Pashinyan was not aligned with the resistance, actively desiring change. This realization played a crucial role in the NGOs' decision to remain engaged in the process. 

However, the situation underwent a significant change with the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which took over full responsibility for police reforms from the Ministry of Justice.

"For quite some time, we observed that Vahe Ghazaryan also represented the resistance. Personally, I don't believe that he had any corrupt motives behind his resistance. However, being deeply entrenched within the system, he was reluctant to push it out of its comfort zone, as his friends and relatives were all part of the same system. It became evident to us that if Vahe Ghazaryan assumed the role of the reform's responsible minister, the progress of the reform would come to a halt," Ioannisyan explains.

Vahe Ghazaryan has been a part of the police system for numerous years. In June 2020, he was appointed as the Police Chief of Armenia. Moreover, he hails from Pashinyan's hometown and was in the parallel class.

"We encountered robust attempts to compromise our core values, but we managed to thwart them. However, the moment Vahe Ghazaryan assumed the role of minister, it became evident that preventing such regression was no longer feasible. Essentially, his appointment served as an indication that no substantial changes would take place. We are unwilling to engage in superficial modifications, as we refuse to bear the responsibility for the subsequent downfall," asserts Ioannisyan.

It is remarkable that the representatives of NGOs were resolute in their conviction and insistence that the leader of the newly established Ministry of Internal Affairs would be a civilian, rather than someone from within the existing system.

"I was confident that a civilian would be appointed because I observed how the structures were designed so that the minister would hold a political role, while Vahe Ghazaryan would retain his position as the police chief. It was quite evident to me. I believe that the decision underwent a change over time," Ioannisyan expresses his viewpoint, linking Ghazaryan's appointment to the closure of the Lachin Corridor, the sole route connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, by the Azerbaijani forces.

According to Ioannisyan, the blockade of Nagorno Karabakh has raised concerns for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding the potential for significant political challenges in Armenia and the Armenian controlled part of Nagorno-Karabakh. In such circumstances, “various forces may attempt to exploit this situation within the country as well.”

"In such a scenario, he requires a loyal police system, not just a Minister of Internal Affairs, as even a civilian could be loyal. What is needed is a loyal system. To maintain that loyalty, it is necessary to avoid disrupting the system's comfort zone. If another individual were appointed, it would not provide the same level of comfort," Ioannisyan emphasizes.

The representative of the NGO firmly believes that their active participation in the council has prevented many problematic situations. Ioannisyan expresses a positive evaluation of their involvement in the reform process. In the near future, a Water Patrol Service will be established in Armenia to monitor Lake Sevan, a recommendation they made that is now being implemented.

However, they are now witnessing a number of issues that have emerged.

"In February, the head of the patrol service was dismissed, and we can clearly observe the negative impact on the streets of Yerevan. For instance, right in front of the prosecutor's office, the prosecutors no longer bother to park properly because they know the patrols won't fine them. If you go there now, you will see them parked without concern. Currently, no patrol officer will dare to fine a National Security Service colonel or revoke the driver's license of a well-known oligarch, things they used to do," Ioannisyan reveals.

The Response from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia has provided a somewhat evasive response to the concerns raised by the NGOs. While they chose not to comment directly on the withdrawal of the NGOs from the council, the ministry asserts that they are always willing to collaborate with representatives of civil society on various sectoral and current matters.

To demonstrate its commitment to cooperation, the Ministry highlights its efforts in organizing a competition to fill the vacant position of the head of the police patrol service. Recognizing the importance of ensuring a transparent and accountable selection and appointment process, the Minister of Internal Affairs issued an order to establish a consultative working committee, which now includes representatives from civil society.

In addition, the Ministry of Internal Affairs claims that representatives of non-governmental organizations are actively participating in the reception committee responsible for selecting candidates for the patrol service units.

Ioannisyan revealed that attempts were made to persuade them to rejoin the council and carry on with their endeavors, or at the very least, actively participate in recruiting the upcoming patrol officers. However, their refusal was unwavering. “In essence, these decisions, in my perspective, are driven not by the efforts we have invested, but rather by the recognition of a profound concern among our international partners regarding the absence of civil representation within the council.”

As it is widely recognized, particularly the American government has provided substantial financial and technical assistance to police reforms in Armenia. Seeking insight into the stance of NGOs' decision, we reached out to the US Embassy in Armenia. The response from the US Embassy was diplomatic in nature, stating, “The US government values the important role of Armenian civil society in promoting reforms consistent with our common democratic values. We are ready to work with various stakeholders in Armenia to advance the reforms of Armenia's law enforcement structures, including by continuing to support the patrol police.”

We also reached out to the Prime Minister, seeking to understand his stance regarding the decision of the NGOs to withdraw from the council and the concerns they raised. However, despite our inquiry, we have yet to receive a response after two months.

Regarding the observation that not being part of the board and not actively engaging in the processes may lead to more problematic outcomes in the reform process, Ioannisyan highlights, “There is a genuine concern because our presence served as a deterrent. However, if we had remained indefinitely, regardless of how dire the situation became, it would only have legitimized further deterioration. By stepping away, we are demonstrating that there are boundaries and limits. This is crucial for the progress of police reform.”

The NGO representative emphasizes that in the event of a sector transformation and the identification of a significant qualitative shift, they maintain an open stance and express their willingness to actively collaborate within the framework of ongoing reforms.

Contributed by Ani Grigoryan, the founder and editor of CivilNetCheck - a fact checking department at CivilNet online TV.