Armenian Interior Ministry seeks tighter citizenship rules for ethnic Armenians

The current procedure for granting Armenian citizenship to ethnic Armenians is overly simplified and requires structural revision, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Armen Kazaryan stated during a press briefing in Yerevan.

According to Kazaryan, over 32,000 individuals obtained Armenian citizenship in 2025—an all-time high. The official noted that Russian citizens of Armenian descent account for a substantial share of the increase, driven by the war in Ukraine and subsequent international travel restrictions faced by Russian passport holders.

Kazaryan pointed out that while standard naturalization requires foreign nationals to demonstrate three years of permanent residency, language proficiency, and knowledge of the constitution, ethnic applicants face virtually no equivalent requirements. Emphasizing that citizenship must retain its fundamental value rather than becoming a transactional convenience, Kazaryan called for targeted legislative amendments to regulate eligibility and prevent immediate reapplication following renunciation.