The Gendarmerie of the Turkish Republic is an armed general law enforcement organisation, which maintains security, public safety and public order and executes the duties ascribed to it by laws and Presidential Decrees. The Gendarmerie General Command is subordinated to the Ministry of Interior.
The Gendarmerie Organisation, which was established in 1839, has survived until today after passing through a number of phases. Having been reformed as a result of the search for a new and permanent law enforcement organisation following the abolishment of janissary system. The Gendarmerie Organisation has become renowned in the history thanks to the excellent achievements they got in the defence of the homeland in a number of fronts while performing security and public order duties during the First World War and the Turkish War of Independence.
After the Republic was proclaimed the Gendarmerie Stations, which were on duty throughout the country, began to serve people as the gates of the state opened to citizens in the most remote parts of the country in addition to carrying out security and public order duties. People began to identify Gendarmerie with the State itself. Having made great achievements thanks to its distinguished commando components, the Gendarmerie Units made significant contributions to bring peace and harmony in the island during Cyprus Peace Operation.
Today, the Gendarmerie General Command, organised in parallel with the size of its responsibility area, is comprised of central and provincial organisations, internal security units, Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy and training units, logistic support units, aviation units and other units established according to the characteristics of the duties.
Since 1998, The Gendarmerie General Command has been a founding member of FIEP and became an observer member of European Gendarmerie Forces in 2009. The Gendarmerie General Command contributed several missions by assigning units and personnel within the framework of the Peace Support Operations under UN, EU and NATO in order to prevent crisis in various regions of the world and to rebuild regional peace.
Updated, August 2025.
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