It is the appointment of Argishti Kyaramyan as director of the National Security Service that poses a threat to Armenia’s national security. This is what leader of Homeland Party Artur Vanetsyan said during an interview aired on Yerkir Media TV.

“As always, the Prime Minister is making contradicting statements. About six months ago, on December 20 (National Security Officer’s Day), the Prime Minister delivered a speech in which he praised the work of the National Security Service, but when he was introducing the new director of the Service two days ago, he said the working style of the Service needs to change and so on. I have nothing against Argishti Kyaramyan, but I can only say that it is the appointment of Argishti Kyaramyan as director of the National Security Service that poses a threat to the country’s national security because a person who doesn’t have experience in working within administration and security bodies is going to possess a lot of information and has to make decisions on various issues quickly and promptly. Directing the National Security Service is not just about leading a fight against economic and corruption crimes. There are more serious issues such as intelligence and counterintelligence, and this requires years of skills and experience,” Vanetsyan said.

As for the claims of civil society activists that the appointment of a young specialists that is not part of the Service will markedly reduce the influence of Russia on the National Security Service, Vanetsyan said he doesn’t agree with those claims and added that Russia has never had an influence on the National Security Service of Armenia.

The host of the interview recalled Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that the past two years was ample time for the National Security Service to position itself after the ‘velvet, non-violent and people’s revolution’ and asked if the National Security Service has to be a political body, to which Vanetsyan said the National Security Service has to be an apolitical body.