PROCESS OF ACQUIRING ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP GATHERS MOMENTUM

Noyan Tapan
July 21, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. 2,420 persons
acquired citizenship of the Republic of Armenia in the first half
of 2009, which was more than in the period from 1997 to 2007, Head
of the Passport and Visa Department of RA Police, Lieutenant Colonel
Norayr Muradkhanian announced.

He explained that the process of granting RA citizenship began in 1997
when the by-laws ensuring the application of the Law on Citizenship of
the Republic of Armenia (passed in 1995) took force. 1,735 citizens
received RA citizenship in 1997-2007. It was mentioned that in the
indicated period the institution of dual citizenship was not valid,
and those receiving RA citizenship were obliged to give up their
citizenship of the other country.

N. Muradkhanian added that dual citizenship was permitted after
the amendments to the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia
were adopted in February 2007, while in November 2007 the Armenian
government approved a decision regulating the process of acquiring RA
citizenship. 1,554 persons received RA citizenship, including status
of dual citizen, in 2008.

N. Muradkhanian said that citizens of 23 countries, including 177 from
Russia, 34 from Uzbekistan, 21 from Turkmenistan, 38 from Iraq, 42
from Iran, 16 from the U.S, and 23 from Syria received RA citizenship
in recent years.

In 2007 there were no cases when an application for receiving RA
citizenship was rejected. 10 applications were rejected in 2008,
9 applications were rejected in the first half of 2009.

According to Head of the Department for Pardon, Citizenship, Awards
and Titles of the RA Presidential Staff Jemma Hakobian, decisions
on granting stay permits to 40-60 persons are now taken twice a
week. Decisions on granting RA citizenship to up to 600 persons are
taken twice a month.