Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has replaced Armenia’s top police official with a politically connected loyalist, further tightening his grip over state institutions amid ongoing questions about the integrity and independence of law enforcement.
On Tuesday, Pashinyan appointed Aram Ghazaryan, a longtime Civil Contract operative and former police officer, as the new chief of Armenia’s national police. Ghazaryan most recently served as governor of Lori province and was named head of the ruling party’s local chapter just weeks ago. He formally renounced his Civil Contract membership in accordance with Armenian law shortly before his promotion.
The appointment has raised eyebrows due to Ghazaryan’s familial ties to a well-known criminal figure who was gunned down in 2021. When questioned about the connection, the 53-year-old confirmed the relation but declined to elaborate.
Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan presented Ghazaryan to senior police officials later that day, praising him as someone who could “breathe new life” into the force and carry forward the government’s ongoing police “reforms.”
Yet the circumstances surrounding the sudden departure of outgoing police chief Aram Hovannisyan remain murky. Though media outlets have reported that Hovannisyan was pushed out by Pashinyan, explanations vary and the prime minister’s office has offered no clarification.
Hovannisyan, who had led the force for over two years, was a key figure in the suppression of anti-government protests and resignations demanding Pashinyan’s ouster. During his tenure, Armenia saw a consistent rise in crime rates.
The latest reshuffle comes amid growing public skepticism about the government’s use of law enforcement for political purposes, and further signals Pashinyan’s willingness to consolidate power through loyal appointments rather than transparent institutional reform.
