1. What is the procedure for granting the RA citizenship and terminating it?

The application for obtaining the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia and terminating the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia shall be submitted in person, except for the cases stipulated by the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia. In the case of presence in the Republic of Armenia, the application shall be submitted to the authorized body of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, and in the case of presence in a foreign country, to the relevant embassy or consular institution of the Republic of Armenia. Applications submitted to the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia or a consular institution shall be forwarded to the authorized body of the Government of the Republic of Armenia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

In connection with the applications for obtaining the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia, as well as for the termination of the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia, the affirmative conclusions drawn up by the authorized body of the Government of the Republic of Armenia shall be forwarded with a recommendation to the President of the Republic of Armenia attaching the draft of the relevant decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia.

The authorized body of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, in the cases defined by the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia, upon receiving the relevant conclusions, shall submit to the President of the Republic of Armenia a recommendation to grant or terminate citizenship to the person who has submitted an application for citizenship, or to refuse the grant or termination of citizenship attaching the relevant draft decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia and summary conclusions received from the Interagency Committee on Citizenship.

Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia may be granted to persons who have provided exceptional services to the Republic of Armenia, as well as those who have made significant contributions in the fields of economy, science, education, culture, healthcare, and sports. In the mentioned cases, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia shall submit a recommendation to the President of the Republic on granting citizenship to a person.

Decrees of the President of the Republic of Armenia aimed at addressing citizenship issues are adopted pursuant to Article 139 of the Constitution.

2. What is the procedure of granting pardon to the convicts?

The Article 135 of the Constitution stipulates that the President, in the cases envisaged by the law and through due procedures is entitled to grant pardon to convicts. According to the RA Law On Pardon, the President is executing his constitution right on granting pardon only based on the recommendations submitted by the Prime Minister on granting pardon or denying pardon to the applicant along with the draft of the presidential decree on granting of denying pardon, personal file of the applicant, and recommendations of the Consultative Commission on Pardons (if applicable).

Any convicted person has the right to appeal for pardon only after the court sentence has entered into force. To review the pardon application, the RA Ministry of Justice compiles a personal file of the applicant and submits it to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister refers the personal file of the applicant to the Consultative Commission on Pardons to receive recommendations on the pardon application. Upon receiving recommendations of the Consultative Commission, the Prime Minister submits to the President recommendations on granting pardon or denying pardon, along with a draft of the presidential decree on granting or denying pardon, the personal file of the applicant and recommendations of the Consultative Commission (if applicable). Upon receiving recommendations, the President signs the draft decree on granting or denying pardon or returns it to the Prime Minister with the amendments.

3. When and how the President of Armenia bestows orders, medals, and honorary titles?

According to Article 5.3 of the Law on State Awards and Honorary Titles of the Republic of Armenia, the President bestows state awards and honorary titles within three days based on the recommendations of the Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Constitutional Court and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council. Upon receiving recommendations on bestowing a state award or honorary title of the Republic of Armenia, the President may within three days return the draft of the presidential decree on bestowing a state award or honorary title to the mediator with his/her objections. If the mediating body does not accept the President’s objections, the President either signs the decree on bestowing a state award or honorary title or within three days files an appeal with the Constitutional Court.

According to Article 52 of the RA Law on Public Service, the President bestows the highest ranks upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Constitutional Court and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council within three days.

4. How to get a job at the Presidential Administration?

Members of the Presidential Administration are public servants; they are hired in accordance with the RA Law on Public Service. Working relations with other employees, who are not public servants, are regulated through the RA Law on Public Service and the RA Labor Code.

5. Who and how decides on the President’s salary?

Salary of the President is regulated through the RA Law on the Wages of the State Administration and State Service Employees. The Appendix 1 of the mentioned law defines the quotient of the high-ranking state, political, and other officials. The coefficient of the RA President’s salary is 20. The coefficient is multiplied by the basic salary which is defined each year by the state budget.