3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: Republic of Armenia

Conventional short form: Armenia

Local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun

Local short form: Hayastan

Former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic

Etymology: the etymology of the country's name remains obscure; according to tradition, the country is named after Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and the great-great-grandson of Noah; Hayk's descendant, Aram, purportedly is the source of the name Armenia

Administrative Divisions

11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan

Independence

21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Constitution

Legal System

civil law system

International Law Organization Participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: no

Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Armenia

Dual citizenship recognized: yes

Residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)

Head of government: Prime Minister Karen KARAPETYAN (since 13 September 2016)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

Elections:

Election results: Serzh SARGSIAN reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Serzh SARGSIAN (RPA) 58.6%, Raffi HOVHANNISIAN (Heritage Party) 36.7%, Hrant BAGRATIAN (ANM) 2.2%, other 2.5%

Note: constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 will transform the government to a parliamentary system by 2018; for the scheduled February 2018 election, the president will be indirectly elected by parliament and will serve a single 7-year term; following the 2018 election, the prime minister will be elected based on majority support of the National Assembly

Legislative Branch

Description: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (minimum 101 seats, currently 105; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

Elections: last held on 2 April 2017 (next to be held in spring of 2022)

Election results: percent of vote by party - RPA 49.2%, Tsarukyan Alliance 27.4%, Yelk (Way Out) 7.8%, ARF (Dashnak) 6.6%, other 9%; seats by party - RPA 58, Tsarukyan Alliance 31, Yelk (Way Out) 9, ARF (Dashnak) 7

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the court chairman and organized into the criminal chamber and a civil and administrative chamber, each with a chamber chairman and 2 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

Judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 9-member body of selected judges and legal scholars; judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judges - 4 appointed by the president, and 5 elected by National Assembly; judges of both courts can serve until retirement at age 65

Subordinate courts: 2 Courts of Appeal (for civil cases and for criminal and military cases); district courts; Administrative Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Yelk (Way Out) Alliance [Edmon Marukyan]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]

Flag Description

Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange; the color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the workers who farm it

National Symbols

Mount Ararat, eagle, lion; national colors: red, blue, orange

National Anthem

Lyrics:

Note: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922) but with different lyrics

: undefined

Year

Government Type

  • Parliamentary democracy

Capital

  • Name
    Yerevan
  • Geographic Coordinates
    40 10 N, 44 30 E
  • Time Difference
    UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Grigor HOVHANNISSIAN (since 28 January 2016)
  • Chancery
    2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Telephone
    [1] (202) 319-1976
  • FAX
    [1] (202) 319-2982
  • Consulate(s) General
    Glendale (CA)

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Richard MILLS (since 13 February 2015)
  • Embassy
    1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
  • Mailing Address
    American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State, 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
  • Telephone
    [374](10) 464-700
  • FAX
    [374](10) 464-742

International Organization Participation

  • ADB
  • BSEC
  • CD
  • CE
  • CIS
  • CSTO
  • EAEC (observer)
  • EAEU
  • EAPC
  • EBRD
  • FAO
  • GCTU
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICC (NGOs)
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ISO
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • MIGA
  • NAM (observer)
  • OAS (observer)
  • OIF
  • OPCW
  • OSCE
  • PFP
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNIDO
  • UNIFIL
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WFTU (NGOs)
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO