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The aim of the bills is creation of the biometric passport and electronic identity and possibility of signing with the conditions of the future generation technologies and security for the citizens and gradually, according to the end of the term, the replacement of the old passports and electronic cars with the new ones. The RA Deputy Head of Police Ara Fidanyan said about this, presenting the package of drafts on Making Amendments and Addendum to the Law on RA Citizen’s Passport and the enclosed presented laws. It was debated at December 2 sitting of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security.

It is designed by the draft law on Identification Cards to extend the term of providing passports envisaged by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia N 821 of December 25, 1998 until December 31, 2023, and provide the identity cards until setting their description by the decision of the RA Government without electronic storage.

It is designed to provide the identity cards with electronic storage until February 15, 2023, and the identity cards not containing electronic storage – from February 15, 2023. It was proposed to organize the second reading of the draft during 24 hours after passing the draft in the first reading.

Kristine Poghosyan noted that the same law debated and passed in the urgent regime about two years ago is again on the agenda. She was interested in the reason of the work not to be done in fact.

Ara Fidanyan answered that there is no factual failure, a full new biometric system, which will give an opportunity to provide a document confirming but only the person, but also to connect that system with other banking, telecommunication systems. It was noted that until this moment debates related to terms are going on when they will be able to introduce in reality the system. As the key rapporteur clarified, one of the reason is the receiving of the citizenship documentation applications. In 2020, 310.970 old sample passports, biometric passport and identity card were given, and in 2022 – 643.746: double increase was registered. Ara Fidanyan informed that in the previous year 3.000 people received the RA citizenship, and this year – 15.000 citizens.

The key rapporteur noted that the management system of the queues was introduced, in the two divisions of the Passport and Visa Department online queueing system functions, in other two divisions at the moment the electronic registration system passes probation period, whi9ch gives opportunity to avoid queues.

The co-rapporteur Armen Khachatryan clarified that the draft law proposed to extend the term by one year: the technical model of the passport and identity card will be adjusted, which will contain complete information about the person, then it will be released.

The Deputy Chair of the Committee noted that in the last two years a great number of complaints were received on the absence of the passport, identity card, driver’s license, which is a consequence of not right planning before. To his assessment, it created serious inconveniences for the population, and it is not acceptable especially in the legal state. In the co-rapporteur’ opinion it could be possible to plan the work in order not to have such deficit.

According to Armen Khachatryan, in 2018 by the assignment of the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, essential changes have been implemented in the administration of the decisions made by the disclosed violations through the video control system. According to the Deputy Chair of the Committee, the change was that decisions of the fine with a number of violations of less importance were not made: only warning was given. On May 23, 2018 the Police spread a statement that there will be no fine for 10 violations. After that decision the administration of the penalties had rather been facilitated. But in the last two years the complaints became more, and decisions are made on the fine for the violations of every little and less significance. Armen Khachatryan asked the Committee to answer in written form about the implementation of the assignment made by the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in 2018 and if the function of May 23 statement is underway.

In his final speech Ara Fidanyan informed that by this moment, ID cards are provided. Touching upon the assignment made by the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in 2018, he noted that they try to make applicable the warning method for the regular less legal violations.

The draft was endorsed.