Flag of Armenia

Flag of Armenia
Name	Armenia
Use	National flag
Proportion	1:2
Adopted	24 August 1990
Design	Three equal horizontal bands of red, blue and orange
Designer	Armenian Supreme Council

Flag of Armenia The national banner of Armenia consists of three horizontal bands of red, blue and orange. It functions as a national symbol used alongside the Coat of arms of Armenia, appears on public buildings in Yerevan, and features in diplomatic missions of the Republic of Armenia. The tricolour appears in ceremonies involving the National Assembly (Armenia), the President of Armenia, and the Prime Minister of Armenia.

Design and symbolism

The banner displays three equal stripes: red at the top, blue in the middle, and orange (sometimes called apricot) at the bottom, with proportions commonly rendered as 1:2. The palette evokes associations advanced by Armenian commentators linking the colours to the legacy of the Armenian Highlands, the memory of the Armenian Genocide, and the continuity of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Scholars and politicians have offered readings that connect red to the blood of the Battle of Avarayr and resistance during the First Republic of Armenia (1918–1920), blue to the skies above Mount Ararat and the Diaspora communities in Tbilisi and Istanbul, and orange to the industriousness espoused by figures such as Mkhitar Gosh and modern statesmen like Aram Manukian. The tricolour’s geometry aligns with vexillological norms used by designers in the Early 20th-century national movements and mirrors stripes used by neighbours such as the Flag of Georgia and the Flag of Azerbaijan in regional context.

History

Tricolour motifs first appeared among Armenian nationalists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, promoted by groups such as the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Armenian National Council. The flag gained prominence during the proclamation of the First Republic of Armenia in 1918, when leaders including Hovhannes Katchaznouni and Alexander Khatisian debated national symbols. Following the Treaty of Sèvres and the subsequent Treaty of Lausanne, the Armenian tricolour receded as Soviet symbols dominated after the establishment of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic under figures like Sergey Kirov and administrators linked to Joseph Stalin. During the Soviet period, the republic used a red banner featuring Soviet emblems patterned after designs driven by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Council of People's Commissars.

Resurgence came amid the late-1980s perestroika and movements such as Karabakh movement and organizations like Pan-Armenian National Movement and Sahman. The tricolour was readopted by the Armenian Supreme Council in 1990 as national independence advanced, with debates involving deputies from constituencies in Gyumri, Vanadzor, and Stepanakert. International recognition of Armenia’s independence in 1991 followed diplomatic steps involving the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and bilateral ties with states including Russia, United States, France, and Iran.

Adoption and legal status

The formal adoption of the tricolour took place on 24 August 1990 by the legislative body during the tenure of leaders such as Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Legal codification appeared in laws enacted by the Supreme Council (Armenia) and later refined in statutes passed by the National Assembly (Armenia)]. Regulations specify dimensions, chromatic standards, and permitted uses; enforcement has involved municipal authorities in Yerevan and ministries such as the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure (Armenia). Judicial interpretation of flag statutes surfaced in cases heard by the Constitutional Court of Armenia over display rules during election periods governed by the Central Electoral Commission (Armenia).

Protocol and display

Official protocol prescribes use of the tricolour at presidential inaugurations of figures like Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, in sessions of the National Assembly (Armenia), and at commemorations for victims of the 1921 February Uprising and memorials to the Armenian Genocide in Tsitsernakaberd. Flag etiquette guides, influenced by practices at foreign missions such as embassies in Paris and Washington, D.C., instruct dipping, half-masting during national mourning proclaimed by the Office of the President (Armenia), and correct hoisting alongside the European Union or the United Nations when needed. Law enforcement agencies including the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Armenia) and military units formerly under the Armenian Army observe distinct mounting procedures during parades in public squares like Republic Square, Yerevan.

Variants and ensigns

Variants include civil ensigns, government flags, and military banners used historically by units associated with the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and contemporary formations arising from the Ministry of Defence (Armenia). During the Soviet era the Armenian SSR adopted a red flag with blue horizontal elements and the hammer-and-sickle insignia promoted by the Communist Party of Armenia. Emblematic flags incorporating the Coat of arms of Armenia appear on diplomatic ensigns at missions in cities such as Moscow, Beirut, and Los Angeles. Regional or municipal flags in Lori Province, Syunik Province, and Aragatsotn Province sometimes adapt the national palette while adding local heraldry derived from historical families like the Bagratuni and the Rubenid houses.

Cultural and political significance

The tricolour functions as a focal point in cultural festivals such as Vardavar and national commemorations like Independence Day (Armenia), and is invoked by political parties including the Civil Contract (Armenia), Heritage (Armenia), and the Republican Party of Armenia. Diaspora communities in locations such as Beirut, Cairo, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Paris, and Moscow display the banner during events organized by institutions like the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. Artists and poets referencing the flag include lineages tied to Hovhannes Tumanyan and contemporary creators showcased at institutions such as the National Gallery of Armenia and the Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The symbol has figured in international advocacy on topics addressed by bodies like the European Court of Human Rights and political debates involving the Council of Europe.

Category:National symbols of Armenia Category:Flags introduced in 1990