Sinanyan Discusses Changes to Citizenship Process for Diaspora Armenians

The Chief Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, addressed the new proposal by Armenia's National Security Service, which suggests changes to the process of obtaining citizenship for Diaspora Armenians. During a conversation with journalists after a government meeting, Sinanyan stated that their department opposes the proposed changes.

“This will not affect repatriation. People who intend to move to Armenia and have not spent 60 days in the country over the last two years can only apply for citizenship after spending 60 days in Armenia. However, in the context of Armenia-Diaspora relations, this is not a positive change. Our department is not in favor of this change. We have expressed our position,” said Zareh Sinanyan.

The National Security Service has presented a draft law to amend the Law on Citizenship, proposing to establish as a mandatory requirement that individuals of Armenian descent without Armenian citizenship must have legally resided in the country for at least 60 days within the past two years to be eligible for citizenship.