Armenia

1. Functions and missions 
The Law on the Police was passed by the Armenian National Assembly on April 16, 2001, the day henceforth celebrated as the national "Police Day". In accordance with Armenia 's obligations under its accession to the Council of Europe, the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On Service in Police" was passed in June 2002, and the Law o f the Republic of Armenia "On Adopting the Discipline Code of the Police of the Republic of Armenia" was passed on May 11, 2005. Re-organization of the Ministry of the Interior into the professional Police of the Republic of Armenia was completed by January 1, 2003. The Penitentiary Division of the police was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice while the Fire Department was incorporated into the Emergency Management Department.

2. Structure and organization
The Police of the Republic of Armenia (PRA) is referred to as a "body adjunct to the Government of Armenia" and is territorially divided into the Central Body, Yerevan Police Department, 10 Police departments (Yerevan and 10 Marz, each has 1 department) and 54 police districts. The PRA also includes the Police Troops, Educational Centre and the Police Academy. 

PRA's Central Body heads the police command staff and consists of the Offices of the Chief, Deputy Chiefs and specialized branches (Departments and Divisions). Among the operational directorates are key branches:

• Combating Organized Crime Main Department  (including the Trafficking in Drugs and Human Beings Department)

• Criminal Investigations Main Department

• Transport Department

The Departments of the Central Body are: Headquarters, Combating Organized Crime Main Department, Criminal Investigations Main Department, Investigative Main Department, Public Order Department, Personnel Department, Information Centre, Public Relations and Press Department, Finances and Economic Affairs Department, Administration, Department of Road Inspection, Passports and Visas Department, State Protection Department, Criminal Forensics and Legal Affairs Department, as well as the National Central Bureau of Interpol.

The activities of the Police are directed by the Chief of the Police, who is appointed by the President at the nomination of the Prime Minister. The Chief has one First Deputy and several Deputies, appointed by the President upon nomination by the Chief. The Commander of the Police Troops is appointed by the President and serves as ex officio Deputy Chief of the Police. Each of the Deputy Chiefs is assigned a sphere of responsibility by the Chief of Police, who is also assisted by a group of Advisers.

3. Staff data 
Decrees passed in October 2002 and April 2003 set the rules for police officers' uniforms and for wearing them. Police personnel are armed primarily with Soviet-made firearms and ammunition, including Makarov and TT handguns, and AKS, AKM, and AK-74 automatic rifles.