The new interior minister, Arpine Sargsian, served as deputy minister until now, while Davit Khudatian, who will take up the other ministerial post, was the government of the Armavir province.
Pashinian has yet to replace the four other officials who headed two law-enforcement agencies, the national tax and customs service and a powerful body overseeing Armenian courts. The de facto sackings were widely construed as being part of his efforts to boost his flagging popularity before general elections due in June 2026. They also stoked speculation that the elections could be held early next year.
The 30-year-old Sargsian, who also worked as deputy minister of justice in 2022-2023, oversaw the Armenian government’s declared police reforms in her previous capacities. She has repeatedly described those reforms as a success despite a significant rise in crime observed during Pashinian’s rule.
Sargsian justified last year’s police crackdowns on protesters demanding Pashinian’s resignation and, in particular, use of apparently unauthorized stun grenades that injured nearly a hundred people. She also refused to criticize police officers who beat up an opposition parliamentarian during one of those protests staged in May.
As interior minister, Sargsian will oversee not only the Armenian police but also the national migration and rescue services.