ArmInfo.Armenian Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan excludes that after the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, same-sex marriages will be allowed in the  Republic of Armenia, as the state does not recognize this right.

"The Convention will not have an impact on the state so that the  latter recognizes same-sex marriages.  However, whether these couples  live together or separately, they decide for themselves," Badasyan  emphasized.

He noted that the government applied to the Venice Commission for the  Istanbul Convention in order to interpret some of its provisions, and  the Constitutional Court will act in accordance with the established  procedure.

Badasyan also touched upon the statement of the Mother See of  Etchmiadzin on the unacceptability of ratification of the Convention,  noting that he was ready to discuss all the provisions of the  document with clergy.  The Minister does not yet know when the  Convention will be sent to the National Assembly, however, the  possibility of ratification this year is almost ruled out.

It should be noted that in January 2018, Armenia signed the Istanbul  Convention ("Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating  Violence against Women and Domestic Violence"). However, this  convention has not yet been sent to the country's parliament. The  Istanbul Convention (or the "Council of Europe Convention on  Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic  Violence") was signed in 2011 in Istanbul (Turkey). Of the 47 member  states of the Council of Europe, 34 have ratified the Convention, 11  have signed. In Armenia, this convention was opposed by the general  public, who believe that ratification of the Istanbul Convention is  unconstitutional and it will destroy Armenian traditional values. The  Ministry of Justice sent this convention to the Venice Commission in  order to study its compliance with the norms of the country's  legislation.