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Armenia/Israel: Whether an Israeli citizen has the right to Armenian citizenship if they were born in Armenia and previously held Soviet citizenship; citizenship application procedures; availability of dual citizenship in Armenia

Article 1 of the Armenian law on citizenship states that individuals of Armenian ethnicity have the right to acquire, and may request, Armenian citizenship, including, according to Article 14, those that renounced Armenian citizenship in favour of naturalization in another state (Armenia 6 Feb. 1995a; ibid. n.d.). Armenian law also stipulates that an Armenian may not hold concurrent citizenship in another country (ibid. Armenia 6 Feb. 1995a). Dual citizenship is not recognised (Asbarez 4 Oct. 2002; Armenia This Week 11 Oct. 2002; US July 2001); therefore, to obtain or reacquire Armenian naturalization, it would be necessary for a person to renounce their current citizenship (Golos Armenii 19 June 2001).

As per Article 14, individuals seeking to regain a renounced Armenian citizenship need only request to have it restored (Armenia 6 Feb. 1995a; ibid. n.d.), except those who were deprived of their Armenian citizenship as punishment for actions that violated the security of the state or society (ibid.; ibid. 6 Feb. 1995a). In addition, those who avoided military service by moving abroad would be denied citizenship because they would lack the necessary military certification of service (Ayots Ashkhar 28 June 2001).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Armenia. 6 February 2002. “Law of the Republic of Armenia on the Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia.” Unofficial translation hosted on the Website of the Caucasus Refugee/IDPs NGO (CRINGO). <http://www.cringo.net/law/doc/52-2.doc> [Accessed 21 Jan. 2003]

_____. n.d. “Armenian Republic Citizenship Act.” Unofficial translation hosted on the Website of the Ministère du culture et communication du France. <http://www.culture.fr/culture/dap/entreelibre/Laurette/country/armeniatxt.html> [Accessed 21 Jan. 2003]

Armenia This Week [Washington]. 11 October 2002. “Opposition Politicians Debate Dual Citizenship.” <http://www.aaainc.org/Armenia_week/10-11-02.htm> [Accessed 21 Jan. 2003]

Asbarez [Los Angeles]. 4 October 2002. “Dual Citizenship Law Under Consideration.” <http://www.asbarez.com/aol/2002/021004.htm> [Accessed 21 Jan. 2003]

Ayots Ashkhar [Yerevan, in Armenian]. 28 June 2001. Vaan Vardanyan. "Armenian MP Says Draft Dodgers to Buy Themselves Out." (BBC Worldwide Monitoring 28 June 2001/NEXIS)

Golos Armenii [Yerevan, in Russian]. 19 June 2001. “French Consul in Armenia Says 50 Per Cent of Applicants Refused Tourist Visas.” (BBC Monitoring 19 June 2001/Eurasianet.org) <http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/armenia/hypermail/200106/0044.html> [Accessed 21 Jan. 2003]

United States (US). July 2001. Department of Defense. "Armenia." In Adjudicative Desk Reference. <http://www.dss.mil/nf/adr/forpref/country1.htm> [Accessed 21 Jan. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

Internet sites, including:

ACCORD 8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar

Caucasus Refugee/IDPs NGO (CRINGO)

Legislation Online

Ministère du culture et communication du France

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Armenia Report

Suffrage Universel

United States Committee for Refugees, Worldwide Refugee Information Country Reports for 2001 and 2002

World News Connection

Topics: Armenian,