Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan introduced newly appointed Director of the National Security Service (NSS), Andranik Simonyan, to the NSS staff.

Pashinyan first thanked outgoing Armen Abazyan for his work as the director of the NSS, emphasizing that in recent years the service has undergone a rather serious process of transformations and reforms. Pashinyan noted that the draft strategy for the further development of the NSS has been formulated, which will be adopted in the near future in accordance with the established procedure and will ensure the further progress and development of the NSS.

Abazyan thanked Pashinyan for the trust shown during this difficult period and congratulated Andranik Simonyan, wishing him success and good service.

Introducing the newly appointed director of the service, Pashinyan noted that Simonyan is not a new person in the service - he has held the position of deputy director for more than four years.

Simonyan also thanked Pashinyan for entrusting him with such a responsible position and emphasized that it is a great honor to serve Armenia and its citizens as the head of the NSS.

According to Pashinyan, the strategy adopted by his government plays a significant role in continuously increasing the efficiency of work. In this context, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the three main functions on which the NSS should focus: counterintelligence, the fight against terrorism, and the maintenance of constitutional order. “I believe the Government is also creating sufficient conditions for the service to be able to focus on these functions. Since 2018, as of today, the funding of the NSS has tripled,” Pashinyan said.

Referring to the recent disclosure of a crime being prepared against statehood, security, and stability of  Armenia, Pashinyan said: “Today’s challenges are hybrid, having the characteristics of both terrorism, violation of the constitutional order, and counterintelligence. The system of hybrid threats is currently being widely discussed in the world, and I would like us to also expand our understanding in the context of performing these three functions.”

Pashinyan promised that his government will continue to provide all necessary conditions for increasing the effectiveness of the NSS’s activities, for the benefit of Armenia, its statehood, people, and citizens.