Foreign Intelligence Service (Armenia)
Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Արտաքին Հետախուզության Ծառայություն | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | December 23, 2022 |
Preceding agency | |
Jurisdiction | Government of Armenia |
Employees | classified |
Annual budget | classified |
Agency executive |
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The Foreign Intelligence Service (Armenian: Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Արտաքին Հետախուզության Ծառայություն, Romanization: Hayastani Hanrapetut’yan Artak’in Hetakhuzut’yan Tsarrayut’yunp, FIS) is Armenia's primary external intelligence agency. A mostly civilian agency, the FIS falls under the direct supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia.[1]
History
[edit]In late 2022, the National Assembly of Armenia announced the intent to create a foreign intelligence service, based on assets within the National Security Service (the NSS's Intelligence Department) and the Armed Forces of Armenia.[2][3] Armen Grigorian, the secretary of the Security Council, announced it will be tasked with “collecting information about the security situation around Armenia.”[2] Opposition lawmakers criticized the government, with Gegham Manukian of the opposition Hayastan bloc sayin that it will "only weaken the existing structures within the NSS and the Defense Ministry.”[3] In October 2023, Kristine Grigoryan, a former Human Rights Ombudsman, was appointed as the FIS's first director.[4][5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "The Government proposes to establish Foreign Intelligence Service as a state administration body under the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia". www.primeminister.am. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
- ^ a b Stepanian, Ruzanna (2022-12-20). "Armenia To Set Up Foreign Intelligence Agency". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 2023-12-21.
- ^ a b "A NEW FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE AGENCY IN ARMENIA". avim.org.tr. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
- ^ MassisPost (2023-10-06). "Kristine Grigoryan Named Armenia's First Foreign Intelligence Chief • MassisPost". MassisPost. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
- ^ "Foreign Intelligence Service mission is to effectively respond to modern-day threats, challenges - PM's spokesperson". armenpress.am. Retrieved 2023-12-21.