1 / 6

Draft Law on Creation of Water Patrol Service Debated in Head Committee

Necessary legislative prerequisites are created with the legislative package for having a specialized water unit within the patrol service of Gegharkunik region, which will be able to implement a new, more highly trained service directly on the surface of Lake Sevan and in its coastal area: the RA Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan stated during the debate of the package of draft laws on Making Addendum to the Law on Police and on Amending the Law on State Regulation of Technical Security. The legislative package was debated at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security on May 15.

The draft law establishes the rights of the police to supervise the legal requirements for the use of watercraft. The Deputy Minister noted that the purpose of surveillance should be to prevent or detect a crime or an administrative offense. According to the regulations, the police representative can also perform a sobriety test, isolate the person driving the watercraft while intoxicated, check for non-observance of fire safety rules, as well as inspect the watercraft in the presence of the owner or citizens.

Arpine Sargsyan said that it is also necessary to improve the sub-legislative framework in order to provide effective mechanisms to the patrol officers. She informed that the official launch of the water patrol service is planned for October 2023.

The Deputy Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security Armen Khachatryan noted in the related report that it is very important to ensure public order on the water surface as well. “With the creation of this unit, surveillance in the coastal areas will also be strengthened, the work of the rescue service will become more efficient, and a number of problems regarding the security of public order will be solved at a higher level,” he said.

According to him, the adoption of the draft will contribute not only to the prevention of fish theft, but also to the prevention of crimes.

The Committee approved the draft law and voted for its inclusion in the draft agenda of the plenary sittings.