Armenia to Reassess Citizenship Procedures, Emphasizing New State-Citizen Relationship

YEREVAN — Armenian Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan chaired a working discussion on proposed amendments and additions to the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia.

The meeting was attended by Acting Deputy Interior Minister Armen Ghazaryan, Acting Head of the Migration and Citizenship Service Nelli Davtyan, and other representatives of the Interior Ministry.

The discussion focused on improving the efficiency of citizenship procedures, refining existing legal regulations and addressing problems in the sector.

Sargsyan emphasized the need to reassess the concept and procedures of citizenship, stressing the importance of establishing a stable legal relationship between individuals receiving Armenian citizenship and the Republic of Armenia.

“We are reassessing the procedures for granting and terminating citizenship and placing a new approach to state-citizen relations at the foundation of their logic. All the solutions we develop must be based on the understanding that we need to establish a new quality of relations between the state and the citizen,” Sargsyan said.

Officials presented proposals aimed at revising and improving procedures for obtaining and restoring Armenian citizenship, as well as related processes.

The participants also discussed ways to improve existing legal requirements and mechanisms and address issues that have emerged in the field. The proposed reforms are intended to incorporate international best practices while adapting them to Armenia’s legal and practical circumstances.

Sargsyan instructed officials to finalize the package based on the results of the discussion and submit it for public consultation.