The Low On The Flag Of The RA

Article 1. Subject for the regulation of the present law

This law regulates the description and application order of the flag of the Republic of Armenia.

Article 2. The Flag of the Republic of Armenia

The Flag of the Republic of Armenia is one of the state symbols of the Republic of Armenia.

The Flag of the Republic of Armenia is tricoloured, red, blue and orange horizontal equal stripes from top to bottom. The red colour symbolizes the Armenian highland, and the constant fight of the Armenian people for longevity, the Christian religion, and the independence and freedom of Armenia. The blue colour symbolizes the will of the Armenian people to live peacefully under a blue sky. The orange colour symbolizes the creative talent and diligence of the Armenian people. The ratio of the width and length of the flag are 1:2. Foreseen by this present passage, by the preservation of the ratio of the flag of the Republic of Armenia a smaller or larger flag can be also used.

A coloured image of the flag of the Republic of Armenia is shown in the supplement, forming a component of the present law.

Article 3. The Use of the flag of the Republic of Armenia

The flag of the Republic of Armenia is always on display on buildings of the

Residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia,

National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia,

Government of the Republic of Armenia,

Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia,

Courts of the Republic of Armenia,

Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Armenia,

Human Rights Defender,

Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia,

Executive Bodies of the Republic of Armenia,

Other Bodies of the State Governance,

Constantly Functioning Bodies (services, councils, committees,) created by the Law of the Republic of Armenia, Territorial Management and Local Self-Government Bodies (including the building of the Municipality of Yerevan) of the Republic of Armenia.

The flag of the Republic of Armenia, in compliance with the international rights and norms,  diplomacy protocols and the traditions of the receiving states, shall constantly be hoisted in display on the buildings of Diplomatic Service Bodies (Embassies, representatives, consular institutions) in the Republic of Armenia and on other state representative buildings of the Republic of Armenia.

The flag of the Republic of Armenia is hoisted during the opening ceremonies of official championships and lowered during the closing ceremonies.

The flag of the Republic of Armenia is always located in the halls used for official, labour and solemn ceremonies, in the halls of the Residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia, National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Government  of the Republic of Armenia, in the court rooms of the judicial meetings of the courts of the Republic of Armenia and the meeting halls of the Central Electoral Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

The flag of the Republic of Armenia is located in one of the halls or lobbies of the Residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, and other bodies of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia, Head of the Staff of the President of the Republic of Armenia, Head of the Staff of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, Head of the Staff of the National Assembly  of the Republic of Armenia, Chairman of the Central Bank  of the Republic of Armenia, President of the Control Chamber of the Republic of Armenia, Human Rights Defender, Republican Executive Bodies, authorities of other bodies of state governance, heads of the standing bodies, created by law of the Republic of Armenia (services, councils, committees,)  judges, prosecutors of the Republic of Armenia, authorities of the Territorial Management and Local Self-Government Bodies (including the building of the Municipality of Yerevan,) in the offices of the authorities of diplomacy service bodies of the Republic of Armenia located in the territories of foreign states (representatives of Embassies, consulate institutions) and in one of the halls or lobbies of the educational institutions.

Besides the cases foreseen by this article, the flag of the Republic of Armenia can be located in other places, on buildings, constructions and dwellings.

The flag of the Republic of Armenia, according to the state protocol core provisions, can be attached on the vehicles of the President of the Republic of Armenia, on the vehicles of the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia only during the visits of the foreign delegations, as well as according to the protocol of the receiving countries the flag of the Republic of Armenia can be attached on the vehicles of the authorities of the official delegations and authorities of diplomacy and regular representatives of the Republic of Armenia.

The swearing in ceremony of persons for constitutional posts, or other persons, defined by the law of the Republic of Armenia is performed under the flag of the Republic of Armenia.

Besides the cases, foreseen by this article, regulations for the use and display of the flag and the image of the flag of the Republic of Armenia are defined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

Article 4.  The Hoisting, Lowering and Transferring of the Flag of the Republic of Armenia

The protocol of hoisting, lowering and transferring of the flag of the Republic of Armenia is defined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The flag of the Republic of Armenia is lowered during officially declared mourning days or mourning ceremonies. The flag is lowered to the middle of the flagstaff. Black ribbon is attached above the flag, the length of which is equal with the length of the flag.

Article 5.  The Use of the Flag of the Republic of Armenia during the Mourning Ceremonies

In the cases defined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, during funeral services aiming to pay military tribute to a deceased citizen, the body and the coffin of the deceased are covered with the flag of the Republic of Armenia. Before burial, the flag of the Republic of Armenia is presented to the relatives of the dead.

Article 6. The Use of the Flag of the Republic of Armenia with the Flag of a Foreign State in the Territory of the Republic of Armenia

When it is necessary to hoist the flag of the Republic of Armenia simultaneously with the flag of a foreign State in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the flag of the Republic of Armenia should be raised from the left side of the building (as viewed facing the building.) While at the same time some odd numbered flags are hoisted the flag of the Republic of Armenia should be hoisted in the middle of them.

If even numbered flags (more than two) are raised, the flag of the Republic of Armenia should be raised left from the middle.

In case the flag of the Republic of Armenia is simultaneously raised with the flags of the foreign countries the ratio of the flags of other countries should not be larger than the flag of the Republic of Armenia.

Article 7. The Requirements to the Flag of the Republic of Armenia

The raised flag of the Republic of Armenia should be a complete one, clean and not pale and the bottom of the flag should be raised from the ground not less than 2.5 meters.

The ratio of the length of the flag to the flag staff should be not less than 1: 1,7.

In case the flag of the Republic of Armenia is hung perpendicularly it should be turned 90 degrees in counter clockwise direction so that when facing the flag the sequence of colours of red, blue and orange is not be broken from left to right.

By the defined order of this law the standing flag of the Republic of Armenia should be illuminated at night after sunset.

Article 8. Imitation of the Flag of the Republic of Armenia

The flags of the NGOs and institutions of the Republic of Armenia should differ from the flag of the Republic of Armenia.

Article 9. The Use of the Flag of the Republic of Armenia by the Armed Forces and Other Troops

The flag of the Republic of Armenia is raised at the locations of the state government body, authorized by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, military units, Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and separate subdivisions of other troops, as well as locations of other troops during ceremonies and official events, i.e. military parade, parade, oath of allegiance, holiday events and other special events.

According to the statutes of the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia, in the foreseen cases, while taking out the fighting flag of the military unit the flag of the Republic of Armenia is also  taken out.

The order for taking out and locating the flag of the Republic of Armenia simultaneously with the fighting flag of the military unit is defined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

Article 10. The Responsibility in Case the Requirements of this Law are Breached

The breach of the requirements of this law causes responsibility by the defined order.

Article 11. The Validity of the Law

This law is valid from the 10th day following its official publication.

Article 12. Transitional Provisions

Before the establishment of the Control Chamber of the Republic of Armenia the relevant requirement of the 5th part of Article 3 is functioning for the President of the Control Chamber of the Republic of Armenia.

The moment this law is in function the decree of September 30, 1967 of the Supreme Council Presidency of ASSR on “Defining the Statute of the ASSR Flag” and the HN-0076 Law of the Republic of Armenia of August 24, 1990 on “State Flag of the Republic of Armenia” becomes invalid.

President of the Republic of Armenia          Robert Kocharyan

04.07.2006
HO-149

Source: parliament.am