NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
BORDER GUARD TROOPS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE OF RA

History

The history of the establishment of the border guard troops of the Republic of Armenia originates from the Government Resolution of the Republic of Armenia “On the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia”. On January 28, 1992 the Ministry of Defense of RA is established by the Decree of RA President, within which the Directorate of Border Guard Troops is established. The RA Deputy Minister of the Interior Colonel G.G. Grigoryan is appointed Head of the Directorate of Border Guard Troops - Deputy Minister of Defense.
The establishment of the Directorate of Border Guard Troops of MoD of the Republic of Armenia was dictated by the necessity of: the armed defense of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia under the conditions of external threat on the part of Azerbaijan and economic blockade on the part of Turkey; the suppression of attempts to conduct cross-border criminal activity, to misappropriate material and other valuables around the bordering territories; the regulation and control over the crossing of individuals, cargos and transport means through the border on legal grounds.
Officers-border guards A. Avakyan, V. Atalyan, V. Karapetyan, V. Asatryan, K. Atanesyan, A. Babayan, A. Baghdasaryan, G. Barseghyan, Yu. Voronov, A. Karapetyan, T. Qeshishyan, M. Nersesyan, S. Poghosyan, R. Stepanyan, M. Sukiasyan, M. Chamanyan and other commanders and officers were at the origins of the establishment of border guard troops of the Republic of Armenia.
The Soviet model of border protection is taken as a basis of the organization of service and fighting activity of the border guard troops of the Republic of Armenia.
In 1992, Colonel Yu.G. Khachaturov is appointed Head of the Directorate of Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of Defense-Commander of the Border Guard Troops of RA.
On September 11, 1993, the Main Directorate of the State Border Protection is established, by the Decree of the RA President, within the State Directorate of the National Security. Colonel L.V. Stepanyan is appointed Head of the Directorate of the Ministry of Defense-Commander of Border Guard Troops.
On 1 October, 1993 the first border detachment, “Pushkino” is established by the Order of the Head of the State Directorate of the National Security, within which border commandant’s offices are formed at the Noyemberyan, Tashir, Ashotsk directions.
By the order of the Head of the State Directorate of the National Security of 16 December, 1993, the Noncommissioned Officer School of the Border Guard Troops of the NSS of RA is established, meant for the training of junior commanders and specialists of the border service (the first head of the School –
Lieutenant Colonel M. S. Chamanyan); on its basis in autumn 1994, the graduation of accelerated courses on the training of junior officers takes place. Many servicemen of this graduation are still serving in subdivisions of Border Guard Troops of the NSS of RA. On 10 February 2001, the Noncommissioned Officer School is reorganized into the Training Center of the Border Guard Troops, on the basis of which the new reinforcement of border guards is trained. In the training center, refresher courses with officers and warrant officers are conducted, courses on training junior officers, sergeants, instructors of K-9s, cooks, drivers are organized. The training of officers is also conducted in the scientific and training center of the NSS of RA and military institutions of higher education of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. 
On 26 April 1994 the Supreme Council adopts the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On the State Border of the Republic of Armenia”, defining the status and regime of the State border, principle and order of ensuring its security, the authorities of the corresponding competent bodies. Subsequently, on 20 November 2001 the Laws of the Republic of Armenia “On the State Border” and “On Border Guard Troops” are adopted. Taking into account the historical significance of the Law of 26 April 1994, the Government of the Republic of Armenia decrees in 2006: “In the Republic of Armenia the Day of the Border Guard is to be celebrated on 26 April”. Since 2007 the Border Guard Troops of the NSS of the Republic of Armenia with a particular triumph celebrate their professional holiday. As to the established tradition the main event of that day is the military parade.
In July 2003, by the Decree of the President of Armenia Colonel V.A. Voskanyan was appointed Commander of the Border Guard Troops of the NSS of RA. In November 2005 Colonel A.A.Abrahamyan was appointed Commander of the Border Guard Troops of the NSS of RA.
On January 24, 2006, by the Decree of the President of the NSS of RA border control detachment was formed and 7 subdivisions were included in it: “Zvartnots”, “Bagratashen” border control departments and “Gyumri”, “Bavra”, “Gogavan”, “Ayrum” and “Erebuni” BCPs.
As a result of reorganization “Gyumri”, “Bavra”, “Gogavan” currently function as separate border control departments. Since 2011 the checkpoint “Privolnoye” functions at the Armenian-Georgian border with the means of “Gogavan”. From 2018 “Erebuni” BCP reformed as checkpoint and functions with the means of “Zvartnots”.
Personnel of the border control department of “Zvartnots” of Border Guard Troops of the NSS of the RA together with the personnel of “Armenia”separate border control department of Border Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the RA protect the state border of the RA at the international airport “Zvartnots” in Yerevan.
On July 16, 2013 in the session of Interagency Commission for Monitoring and Realization of the program envisaged by the border security and integrated state border management strategy of the Republic of Armenia, an agreement was reached on the issues on modernization of “Bagratashen”, “Bavra, “Gogavan” BCPs bordering Georgia. The completely modernized “Bagratashen” and “Gogavan” border control departments were put into operation in 2016, and “Gogavan”
in 2017. As a result of it the security level in these BCDs was increased, the turnover of goods, the movement of people and means of transport across the border between Armenia and Georgia, were simplified. From 2015 to 2016 conditions of service and residence of servicemen at the checkpoint “Ayrum” have been improved.
In April 2011 the construction of the military town on the western outskirts of Yerevan was completed where the Department of the Border Guard Troops, educational center, and Border control detachment were relocated and the canine service was formed.