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BULGARIAN GENDARMERIE
The Gendarmerie (Жандармерия - Zhandaramerya) is a part of the Bulgarian Ministry of internal affairs or "MIA". In Bulgarian: "Министерство на вътрешните работи" or "МВР" it is being pronounced [mevere]. In Bulgaria "МВР" has always been the other word for Police, comparable with the American “FBI”.
Bulgarian “MBP" is divided into five military-type organizations named “National Services”, that fulfill police and internal-security related duties. They are:
- 1. The National Security Service – counter spying duties
- 2. National Police Service – maintaining public order, investigating and counteracting crimes
- 3. National Border Police Service - protects the state’s border
- 4. National Organized Crime Service – special duties
- 5. National Gendarmerie Service
The gendarmerie is a special police force for securing very important facilities, buildings, and for fulfilling special operations by mass riots and counteraction to terrorist- and diversion groups. This task force is trained to do it’s duties in different environments (urban, forest, mountain) depending on the nature of the operation. It is also heavily armed. For riots the commandos are equipped with “Makarov 9x18” pistol, protective gear, gas grenades, police sticks, and other non-lethal weapons. When fulfilling high risk tactical operations they are geared with 5,45x39mm AKS-74U, which is special designed version of the original “Kalashnikov” assault rifle.
The Gendarmerie is meant to be a force structure that is in the middle position between the army and the police.
The gendarmerie servants are ranked from “sergeant” to “colonel”. The ranks are, like in the rest of the police:
STAFF /Sergeant ranks/:
1. Sergeant
2. Senior sergeant
3. Chief sergeant
COMMANDERS / Officer ranks /:
1. Junior lieutenant
2. Lieutenant
3. Senior lieutenant
4. Captain
5. Major
6. Colonel lieutenant
7. Colonel
8. GENERAL
The chief of the Gendarmerie is usually major general.