January 28 is celebrated in Armenia as Army Day, and this year marks the 26th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces.

In September 1990, the Supreme Council of Armenia adopted a decision on forming a Special Regiment within the Internal Affairs Ministry of the time; and with the government’s decision, the Committee of Defense was formed on May 4, 1991.

On January 28, 1992, the Government of Armenia adopted the decision On the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, and this became the beginning for the formation of the Armenian Armed Forces.

And on September 25, 2002, the National Assembly made an amendment in the Law on Holidays and Memorial Days, whereby Army Day became a non-working day in Armenia.

The first phase for the formation of the Armenian army, however, is considered to be from 1988 to 1992, when there was a challenge of ensuring the safety of the people of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh); at the time, volunteer detachments were carrying out this task.