Rubinyan Establishes New Security Rules for the National Assembly Building and Grounds — factor.am

Ruben Rubinyan, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly currently serving as acting Speaker, has signed a decision establishing security rules for the grounds and building of parliament's premises. This is reported by factor.am.

According to the decision, the protection of the National Assembly's grounds and building, as well as ensuring security, will continue to be carried out by the State Protective Service of the Republic of Armenia. The Head of Staff/Secretary General of the National Assembly staff has been instructed to notify, in the established manner, the Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly, parliamentary factions, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of standing committees, MPs, as well as the staff of the National Assembly and the Audit Chamber about the new rules. At the same time, the corresponding decision of the Speaker of the National Assembly dated February 12, 2019, which had until now governed security-related matters on the grounds and in the building of parliament, has been declared invalid.

Thus, under the adopted decision, accredited journalists may carry out their professional activities only in specially designated areas. Permission from the National Assembly's Secretary General is required to work in other locations. Furthermore, the list of journalists wishing to attend committee sessions must be submitted at least 2 hours before the session begins. In "specially monitored zones," journalists are entirely prohibited from carrying out any professional activity.

"Persons present on the grounds of the protected facility are prohibited from unnecessarily interfering with or otherwise disrupting the normal work of the National Assembly, making offensive remarks, failing to comply with the requirements of a Protective Service officer arising from the law and these rules, or committing other actions that violate the procedure established by these rules," the decision states.

Among other things, bringing in alcoholic beverages is prohibited (except in special cases). Entry with large items, including bags, suitcases, and large bags (except for laptop bags and folders), is prohibited. Chemical, explosive, and flammable substances are also prohibited. The rules state that visitors must have "appropriate appearance." In particular, entry is prohibited in sportswear or special work clothing, as well as in "inappropriate, non-representative attire."

The rules also have exceptions: the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Catholicos of All Armenians, as well as a number of senior officials and their accompanying persons have the right to enter and exit through the Baghramyan and Demirchyan Street checkpoints without inspection. In the case of vehicles, the cars of the President, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of the National Assembly likewise pass without inspection.

It is prohibited to video- or photograph Protective Service employees while they are performing their duties. Those present in the boxes of the National Assembly session hall are prohibited from using photo, film, or video equipment, as well as telephones or radio communication devices.

On working days, entry and exit for National Assembly staff is permitted from 08:00 to 22:00. For journalists, the hours are set from 08:00 to 19:00, though if National Assembly sessions continue, they may remain until the session ends. At the end of the working day, each employee is required to turn off electrical devices, close the windows, and lock the office door.

The full rules are available here.

As a reminder, the board of the "Civil Contract" party has decided that Ruben Rubinyan will become the next Speaker of the National Assembly. Rubinyan, notably, did not wait to formally assume the duties of Speaker in the 9th convocation of parliament, and signed the new decision while taking advantage of the fact that current Speaker Alen Simonyan is on leave until the first session of the new National Assembly.