On November 15, during a government session discussing the Police Reform Strategy, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighted several key issues, including emergency response, police accountability, and public trust in law enforcement.

Pashinyan proposed creating a single emergency phone number, ideally the well-recognized "911" used in many countries. “This would ensure that anyone in need of help knows there is one number for everyone to call,” he stated, emphasizing the convenience and accessibility of the system.

Addressing the use of force by police, Pashinyan stressed the need for clear standards. “The police must have the legal and legitimate right to use force; otherwise, their existence would be meaningless,” he said. However, he acknowledged the lack of defined standards for the use of force in Armenia and emphasized the importance of establishing visible guidelines. “This is critical for both the police and the public to understand when and how force should be applied,” he added.

Turning to broader governance and justice issues, Pashinyan expressed frustration with the lack of tangible progress in law enforcement reforms. “People ask us about justice, and we say it’s coming, but we decided to pursue an institutional approach,” he explained. Criticizing the inefficiency within the system, Pashinyan remarked, “I have provided the resources and support requested, but we still see no results. The biggest problem is the public’s perception that I am orchestrating these failures, which is not true.”

Pashinyan lamented that systemic weaknesses contribute to public distrust. “It appears the power structures are weak, and as a result, the state itself seems weak,” he concluded.

Reflecting on the expectations following the 2018 revolution, Pashinyan noted public misconceptions about how justice would be served. “People thought revolutionary groups would seize illegal money and property on my order, but we chose to build institutions instead,” he said, underscoring his administration’s commitment to institutional reforms over populist measures.