The National Security Service border troops plan to gradually take over from the Defense Ministry the protection of the entire Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. To implement the transition, the authorities intend to increase border troop personnel, introduce new recruitment mechanisms and revise several conditions governing service within the NSS system. The proposals are outlined in the explanatory note accompanying a package of legislative amendments prepared by the National Security Service.

The package also proposes introducing the I Have Honor program within the NSS system, Factor.am reports.

The draft package contains amendments to the laws on service in national security bodies, military service, and the status of servicemen and border troops.

Introducing the I Have Honor program would allow citizens who received deferments for targeted studies and completed military training during their education to join the NSS for contractual military service after graduation instead of compulsory service.

The proposals would also extend certain provisions of the Defender of the Homeland program to border troops. Contract servicemen who complete the training stage would be considered certified based on their examination results if they are appointed to positions corresponding to their acquired specialty. The same procedure would apply to graduates of Armenian military educational institutions who are appointed to officer posts.

In cooperation with the Defense Ministry, a four-year bachelor’s program in border unit management has been offered at the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy since the 2023-2024 academic year. Ten places per year were allocated during the first two academic years, while 20 places were provided for the 2025-2026 academic year. According to the explanatory note, 46 applications have already been submitted for the specialty.

The amendments would additionally raise the maximum service age for senior officers from 52 to 55 and allow annual leave to be divided into three parts instead of the current two. For female personnel, maternity leave would be counted toward the required period for holding a military rank before promotion. The authors of the draft say female personnel in the Defense Ministry and NSS systems are currently subject to different rules, which the legislation seeks to standardize.

The bills also define the grounds, conditions and procedures under which NSS employees may use physical force, weapons and special equipment. Existing legislation grants employees that authority but, according to the explanatory note, does not sufficiently specify the circumstances and limits of its application.

The NSS leadership would be authorized to approve the design, description and wearing rules for border troop uniforms and insignia. That authority currently belongs to the prime minister and the government. The draft also seeks to clarify the use of video-recording equipment during state border protection operations.

Adoption of the legislative package would require changes to state budget revenues and expenditures. The explanatory note says detailed calculations will be presented while drafting the secondary legislation arising from the amendments.