January 28 is celebrated in Armenia as Army Day, and this year marks the 27th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces.

In September 1990, the then Supreme Council (parliament) of Armenia adopted a decision on forming the 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 the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) War was going on and there was a challenge of ensuring the safety of the people of Armenia and Artsakh; at the time, volunteer detachments were carrying out this task.