A lawyer for foreigners in Armenia defends citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, India, the European Union, the United States and other states who live, work or travel here. A foreign citizen has the same procedural rights as a citizen of Armenia. Some risks are higher: the language is unfamiliar, the prosecution may argue that a foreigner will leave the country, and a criminal case can affect the right to stay in Armenia.
Your rights after arrest
From the moment of arrest you have the right to:
- a lawyer of your choice;
- remain silent and not testify against yourself or close relatives;
- know the reason for the arrest;
- have a relative informed;
- an interpreter at every interview and in court;
- ask that the consulate of your state be informed.
Within 72 hours you must be released or brought before a court. Only a court can order detention. The first steps are on the page what to do if you are arrested.
Interpreter and documents
- The interpreter must translate the questions, your answers and each document you sign.
- If the translation is poor, say so and ask that this be written in the record.
- Do not sign a record in Armenian that you cannot read. Ask for a translation first.
- Your talks with your advocate are confidential. With advocate Marukyan you talk directly in English or Russian, without an interpreter in the room.
Consulate notification
A foreign citizen can ask that his consulate be informed of the arrest. The consulate can visit, contact the family and help with documents. It does not defend you in the criminal case. A person who fears persecution in the home state should first discuss with the advocate whether to involve the consulate. If the home state is looking for you, read the page on extradition.
Detention risk for foreign citizens
The prosecution may ask for detention on the ground that a foreigner has no ties in Armenia and can leave. The defense answers with facts:
- a residence permit or a long-term lease;
- a job, a contract with a local company or a registered business;
- a spouse or children in Armenia, school or kindergarten records;
- proof that you came to every summons.
A court can choose bail or another non-custodial measure instead of detention. More on this on the page about pretrial detention.
Residence permit, expulsion and entry bans
A criminal case can affect your migration status. After a conviction, a foreign citizen can lose the residence permit, face expulsion and receive a ban on entry to Armenia. Before any step that admits guilt, the advocate checks what it means for your right to stay. For a family that has built its life in Armenia, this question can matter as much as the sentence.
Common cases with foreign citizens
- drugs, including medicines and substances that are legal at home (see drug cases);
- fights and conflicts in bars, clubs and on the street;
- traffic accidents with injuries;
- fraud, cryptocurrency and online payment cases;
- requests for extradition from the home state.
What to do now
- Ask for your own advocate and an interpreter before you answer questions.
- Do not sign papers in a language you do not understand.
- Do not discuss the case with other detainees or by phone.
- Keep your passport and residence documents safe. Give copies to a relative or a friend.
- Ask a relative or a friend to call the advocate at once.
How advocate Marukyan helps as a lawyer for foreigners in Armenia
Mnatsakan Marukyan is a criminal defense lawyer in Yerevan, a member of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia, license №2550. He works in English, Russian and Armenian at every stage, from the first hours after arrest to the Court of Cassation.
- He talks with you directly in your language and explains each step of the Armenian procedure.
- He comes to the police station at any hour and takes part in every interview.
- He checks the work of the interpreter and the translation of documents.
- He keeps your family abroad informed, if you wish.
- He argues against detention with evidence of your ties to Armenia.
- He plans the defense with your residence status in mind.
The office is at Athens street 3/3, Yerevan. The first consultation is free. Call +374 91 403961, or write on WhatsApp or Telegram. Advocate Marukyan is available 24/7 for arrests and searches.