Large Scale Rescue Equipment and Firefighting Vehicles Procured, Ministry of Internal Affairs Reports

On November 27, an article titled “Motorcycles Instead of Rescue Equipment for Patrols” circulated on one of the news websites, which addressed the procurement procedures carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Some information in the article is manipulative and misleading, stated the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“In 2025, a procurement procedure has been announced for the acquisition of 10 motorcycles for the needs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs through electronic auction, for which only the ‘Vanitar’ LLC submitted a bid. A contract was signed with them on August 28, 2025. The procurement procedure was organized in accordance with Article 15, Part 6 of the Law on Procurement of the Republic of Armenia, conditional on the allocation of financial resources. For the effective management of financial resources, funds allocated for the acquisition of motorcycles were taken from the ‘other special purpose materials’ line in the procurement plan of the rescue service, as procurement procedures for the aforementioned items have been declared three times without success.

It should also be noted that a large amount of rescue equipment and technology has been acquired for the needs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ rescue service in 2025, specifically including 29 firefighting rescue vehicles, 309 combat outfits (the last purchase was in 2019), rescue products, and accessories. This includes a set of tools, chargers, stretcher inserts, stretchers, motorized grinders, fire extinguishers, folding ladders, shovels, electric angle grinders, chain concrete saws, binoculars, rescue and emergency-use devices, snake-catching devices, motor percussors, gasoline mowers, tripods, inflatable boats, rope towers, and more.

Recently, such large-scale purchases are being made for the first time. The 2026 budget also allocates funds for the Rescue Service, and relevant procurements will be carried out accordingly.

Additionally, this year the building of the Stepanavan firefighting and rescue squad has been commissioned, while the construction of the buildings for the fire and rescue departments in Yeghyunj and Baghramyan, as well as the water rescue station in Sevan, are at the construction phase.

The Ministry exclusively procures services through transparent and accountable competitive procedures, and accordingly, the budget expenditures relating to the Ministry, including procurement procedures, are planned in advance as stipulated by the Law on the State Budget. Budgetary resources for achievements are also allocated under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2026-2028. One service's needs are not secured through the procedures intended for another service within the Ministry.

At the same time, it is noted that a procurement procedure may not take place on legal grounds, taking into consideration the circumstances presented in Article 37 of the Law on Procurement of the Republic of Armenia. Hence, if the procurement process does not take place periodically, it is fully reasonable to emphasize the importance of effectively managing budgetary resources and timely directing the necessary funds towards other essential needs, especially given that during the current year concerning this procurement it is feasible to ensure supply.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is always open for cooperation; we urge to refrain from disseminating false and manipulative information and encourage checking with the Ministry of Internal Affairs before publishing the information,” stated the Ministry of Internal Affairs in its clarification.