Bulgarian Gendarmerie
Encyclopedia
The Bulgarian Gendarmerie' (Жандармерия - Zhandarmeriya) is a part of the Bulgaria
n Ministry of Internal Affairs or "MIA". (Bulgarian: "Министерство на вътрешните работи" or "МВР", pronounced [mevere].) In Bulgaria the initials "MBP" are used in a fashion similar to “FBI” in America when describing the national police forces.
Bulgarian “MBP" is divided into five military-type organizations named “National Services”, that fulfil police and internal-security related duties. They are:
The Genderarmerie is a special police
force deployed to secure important facilities and buildings, to respond to riots, and to counter militant threats. Its agents are trained to operate in both urban and wilderness environments so as to be able to carry out a wide range of duties. For riot duty the commandos are equipped with Makarov
9x18 pistols, protective gear, gas grenades, police sticks and non-lethal weapons. When performing high-risk tactical operations they are armed with 5.45x39mm AKS-74U rifles, which are specialized versions of the original Kalashnikov
assault rifle.
The Gendarmerie is meant to be a force structure intermediate between the army and the police.
Gendarmerie agents are ranked from sergeant
to colonel
, following a system used throughout the Bulgarian police forces. The overall commander of the force is usually a Major General
.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Ministry of Internal Affairs or "MIA". (Bulgarian: "Министерство на вътрешните работи" or "МВР", pronounced [mevere].) In Bulgaria the initials "MBP" are used in a fashion similar to “FBI” in America when describing the national police forces.
Bulgarian “MBP" is divided into five military-type organizations named “National Services”, that fulfil police and internal-security related duties. They are:
- National Security Service – counterespionage duties
- National Police ServiceNational Police Service (Bulgaria)The National Police Service is an independent agency of the Ministry of the Interior responsible for general law enforcement in Bulgaria.- Ranks and shoulder insignia of the Bulgarian police officers :...
– maintaining public order, investigating and counteracting crimes - National Border Police Service - protecting the state’s border
- National Organized CrimeOrganized crimeOrganized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
Service – special duties - National GendarmerieGendarmerieA gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
Service
The Genderarmerie is a special police
Special police
Special Police does not have a consistent international meaning. In many cases it will describe a police force or a unit within a police force whose duties and responsibilities are significantly different from other forces in the same country or significantly different from other police in the same...
force deployed to secure important facilities and buildings, to respond to riots, and to counter militant threats. Its agents are trained to operate in both urban and wilderness environments so as to be able to carry out a wide range of duties. For riot duty the commandos are equipped with Makarov
Makarov
-Places:*Makarov, Russia, a town in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia*Makarov, Luhans'ka, Ukraine - populated place N 48° 41' 1 E 39° 31' 7*Makarov, Luhans'ka, Ukraine - populated place N 48° 41' 57 E 39° 29' 20...
9x18 pistols, protective gear, gas grenades, police sticks and non-lethal weapons. When performing high-risk tactical operations they are armed with 5.45x39mm AKS-74U rifles, which are specialized versions of the original Kalashnikov
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
assault rifle.
The Gendarmerie is meant to be a force structure intermediate between the army and the police.
Gendarmerie agents are ranked from sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, following a system used throughout the Bulgarian police forces. The overall commander of the force is usually a Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.