NSS of Armenia lays the basis for involvement of Artsakh partners in  its ranks

ArmInfo.The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia has initiated legislative amendments to the  law , which will allow employees of the NSS of Nagorno-Karabakh to take up a vacant position in the authorized body of the national security of the Republic of  Armenia. The project, posted on the unified portal of legal acts e-draft.am, was supported by about 80% of respondents.

As noted in the explanation to the document, after the tragic events  in Nagorno-Karabakh, many employees of the NSS of Artsakh expressed a  desire to continue serving in the national security bodies of the  Republic of Armenia. However, according to Article 14 of the Law only citizens of the  Republic of Armenia can join the service. In addition, by the  Government Decree of October 26, 2023, persons registered in the  state population register of the NK were taken under temporary  protection by the RA government and recognized as refugees, which is  a circumstance that directly hinders service in the RA national  security bodies. And, even if the employees of the NK NSS apply and  receive RA citizenship, the latter, taking into account age  restrictions, will have the opportunity to be accepted into the RA  national security bodies only for junior and middle group positions.

Meanwhile, many of those who wish to serve in the RA NSS held leading  or senior positions in the NK NSS and had high officer ranks, and the  latter's receipt of RA citizenship will not be a sufficient basis for  appointment to an equal military position in the RA NSS. Based on the  abovementioned, the NSS Armenian office considered it necessary to  make a corresponding amendment to the Law , according to which persons holding positions in the  National Security Service of Nagorno-Karabakh as of September 19,  2023 will have the opportunity to continue serving in the national  security bodies of the Republic of Armenia if they meet the national  security requirements for appointment to this position, imposed on  employees of the security bodies. The draft envisages to lay the  basis for continuing service in the event of a vacancy in the state  authorized body, as provided for in Article 19, Part 6.1 of the Law  . When appointing to a  position in the authorized body, the length of service in  Nagorno-Karabakh, the position held and rank will be taken into  account, and the law will apply to persons who held a position in the  National Security Service of Nagorno- Karabakh as of September 19,  2023, and appointed to a position to continue serving in the  authorized body until July 1, 2025.