Armen Pambukhchyan has been appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia, according to a presidential decree.

Pambukhchyan was the First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations when charges were brought against Minister Andranik Piloyan, who was detained immediately.

The National Security Service said in late March that investigators have uncovered information about Ministry officials receiving large sums of money in bribes or assisting in the process, while charges also include abuse of power, embezzlement, illegal payments and other abuses.