Ministry of Emergency Situations
of the Republic of Armenia

In 1988, the earthquake of Spitak revealed many issues related to civil protection (CP) system in Armenia and became the main impetus of radical reorganization of that system and creating of Emergency Management Administration of Government of Armenia.

In 1991 the Emergency Management Administration was set up, and Stepan Badalyan was appointed the Head of EMA. The CP headquarter with its all units, which was acting in Armenia from 1961, in the end of 1991 has been put under the Emergency Management Administration. The Administration, in contrast to the narrow frame of the civil protection activities in the past, accepted new, wide approach to the organization of the whole system from conceptual, professional and legal point of view, based on the possible occurence of large-scale disasters and accidents, their classification and risk assessment.

Based on the decision N 359 of RA Government from 1997 September 4, rapid response rescue team was set up, which main tasks were.

-Rescue operations in disaster zone, as well as assistance provision to the population in case of emergency accidents in the shortest time,
- recovery works in case of disasters and accidents.

In 1994, Armenia became a full member of the International Civil Defence Organization.

In 1997, EMA was removed from the structure of the Government and was renamed as Emergency Management Administration under Government, RA.

In July, 1997, Major-General Vyacheslav Harutyunyan was appointed the Head of EMA.

In February, 2001, Major-General Hmayak Haroyan was appointed the Head of EMA.

In March, 2004, Major-General Edik Barseghyan was appointed the Head of EMA.

In December, 2005, the Emergency Management Administration was renamed as Armenian Rescue Service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, RA.

In 2008, by the Decision of RA President, the Ministry of Emergency Situations was established, and Mher Shahgeldyan was appointed the Minister of Emergency Situations, RA.

The newly established Ministry has included the Rescue Service, National Service of Seismic Protection, Hydrometeorological Service, State Reserves Agency and National Center of Technical Safety.

In March, 2010, Armen Eritsyan was appointed the Minister of ES.

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On December 1, 2014, Ministry of Emergency Situations, RA, was reorganised and united with the Ministry of Territorial Administration, RA, by Presidential Decree, RA. By another Presidential Decree, RA, on December 1, 2014 Armen Eritsyan was appointed the Minister of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations, RA.

By the RA President's NH-196-A decree, on February 24, 2016, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia is reorganized into the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the RA President’s NH-198-A Decree on February 24, 2016, Armen Yeritsyan is appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the RA President’s NH-1058-A Decree on September 27, 2016, Armen Yeritsyan is appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the RA President’s NH-246-A Decree on February 6, 2017, David Tonoyan is appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the RA President’s NH-465-A Decree on May 30, 2017, David Tonoyan is appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the RA President’s NH-276-A Decree on April 20, 2018, David Tonoyan is appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the RA President’s NH-311-A Decree on May 12, 2018, Hrachya Rostomyan is appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the RA President’s NH-433-A Decree on October 4, 2018, Feliks Tsolakyan is appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the RA President’s NH-22-A Decree on January 18, 2019, Feliks Tsolakyan is appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.

According to the RA President’s NH-312-A Decree on November 20, 2020, Andranik Piloyan is appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia.