53 Lawyers File Complaint Regarding President’s Dual Citizenship Concealment

53 lawyers have filed a complaint with the Prosecutor General of Armenia regarding the concealment of President Armen Sarkissian's dual citizenship status. This was reported by the President of the Chamber of Advocates Ara Zograbyan on his Facebook page.

According to the complaint, Armen Sarkissian held citizenship in the United Kingdom for at least 10 years from 2003 to 2012 and was elected President of Armenia on March 2, 2018, despite not meeting the requirement of being solely a citizen of Armenia for the past six years. Armen Sarkissian could only have been elected as President of Armenia if his UK citizenship had been terminated by March 1, 2012 (March 1, 2018 - 6 years).

The Head of the Presidential Administration referenced a statement prescribed by Armenian legislation regarding the President's citizenship, which was submitted during the presidential election process to the National Assembly of Armenia.

Notably, there is a letter dated March 25, 2021, from the Head of the Passport and Visa Department of the Police of Armenia, A. Mkrtchyan, which states that there was no information available in the state population register regarding President Armen Sarkissian holding citizenship in another country, including as of March 2, 2018. This information is processed in the public register based on details provided by the citizen or received from competent authorities in Armenia. Information about foreign citizenship is considered processable and entered into the register only if the individual presents a document verifying their citizenship in another country.

For the presidential election, the information provided about A. Sarkissian being a citizen of only the Republic of Armenia for six years was based on data available in the state population register of the Passport and Visa Department and a statement made by Armen Sarkissian in his application claiming he was not a citizen of another country. It is also important to note that there are no other legal acts establishing different verification procedures for being solely a citizen of the Republic of Armenia.

Names of the lawyers include: Ara Gagiki Zograbyan, Simon Alberti Babayan, Mane Gurgeni Karapetyan, Marianna Sergeyi Mkhitaryan, Stella Hovakimi Baghramyan, Vahram Begoyan, Araks Vardanyan, Kristine Avagyan, Lusine Ashoti Sarkisyan, Vahagn Movses Keshishyan, Andranik Hakobyan, Anzhelika Hakobyan, Arshak Andraniki Vardanyan, Armine Gevorgi Karapetyan, Harutyun Baghdasaryan, Sargis Khachatur Khachatryan, Liana Grigoryan, Viktoria Petrosyan, Anna Lemsiki Mantashyan, Ani Mihrani Grigoryan, Tsovinar Karapetyan, Sergey Vachagani Manukyan, Hasmik Yeghnik Martirosyan, David Israelian, Levon Ashoti Vardanyan, Vrej Khachikyan, Nazeli Arami Ter-Petrosyan, Tatevik Bujatyan, Tatevik Shayjyan, Gagik Mailyan, Sona Gulakyan, Hrayr Khachatryan, Anzhela Grishayi Hovhannisyan, Gayane Papoyan, Lyudvig Khoreni Avetisyan, Astghik Ghazari Ghazaryan, Karine Baghdasaryan, Varduhi Sarkisyan, Ani Barsesgyan, Anna Vardanyan, Ferdinand Sarkisyan, Garik Rafayeli Hakhnazaryan, Shushan Mhery Harutyunyan, Anna Arthur's Tsarukyan, Eduard Borisi Aghajanyan, Armen Martuni Hayrapetyan, Artashes Leonidi Hovhannisyan, Armine Karlosyi Fanyan, Hrayr Mergelosi Kalashyan, Papaz Khachiki Avagyan, David Grishayi Danelyan, Lianna Gasparyan, Pavlik Poladyan.