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Armenia is seeing an increase in the number of asylum seekers from abroad, according to officials in charge of processing the applications.
Ruzanna Petrosyan, Head of the Asylum Provision Department of the Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, told Armenpress that in 2025 there has been a significant increase in applications submitted both from detention facilities and at border checkpoints.
“If in the first nine months of 2024, 37 individuals applied for asylum from detention facilities, in the same period of 2025 the number has risen to 74. The final figure for 2024 was 85 applications. An increase was also recorded in applications from border checkpoints: 13 individuals applied in the first nine months of 2024, compared to 46 in the same period of 2025,” she noted.
According to Petrosyan, the majority of applicants at border checkpoints are Cuban citizens coming from the Russian Federation. “They can enter Armenia only if they have legal residency in Russia, but in many cases that period has expired. In such cases, entry is allowed solely on the basis of seeking asylum,” she said.
Presenting the overall statistics of asylum seekers, the official said that there were 220 applications in 2020; 989 in 2022 (after the start of the war in Ukraine); 817 in 2023; 660 in 2024; and, according to the latest data for 2025, there are 514 applications.
Petrosyan added that in 2025 the number of applications from Iranian citizens has sharply increased due to tensions between Iran and Israel.
“If we compare with the previous year, there were 51 Iranian applicants in the first nine months of 2024, whereas in 2025 the number reached 159. In June–July, there was an almost massive influx, but after the situation stabilized, the majority of them returned,” she said.
According to the official, asylum requests filed by Russian citizens have also increased significantly due to the war in Ukraine. Most applicants are seeking to avoid conscription and military service. “These cases are extremely complex, because on the one hand there is a humanitarian justification for avoiding the war, and on the other hand, Russia submits extradition requests. We cooperate with the Prosecutor General’s Office to ensure decisions are as fair and balanced as possible,” Petrosyan said.
Armenpress spoke with attorney Levon Vardapetyan, Advisor-Expert on Asylum Issues at the Public Defender’s Office, to learn more about the legal challenges facing asylum seekers.
The status of asylum seekers and refugees in Armenia is regulated by both international and domestic legal norms. The primary international document is the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which Armenia joined in 1993. Subsequently, domestic legislation was adopted as well—the Law on Refugees and Asylum.
“The law stipulates that asylum can be granted to foreign nationals or stateless persons who are persecuted in their country on any of the following five grounds: race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. If at least one of these grounds exists and there is a well-founded fear of persecution, the person is initially granted the status of an asylum seeker and may later be recognized as a refugee,” explained Vardapetyan.
According to the expert, asylum seekers often face serious problems already at the entry stage. “Many do not manage to obtain a visa or leave their country in urgent circumstances, which leads them to cross the border illegally or use forged documents. In such cases, a criminal case is initiated against them, and they are arrested and detained,” he noted. However, if it later becomes clear that the person indeed fled due to persecution and is recognized as a refugee, they are exempt from liability under those articles, as these actions do not entail criminal responsibility in this context.
Vardapetyan said that Armenian legislation still does not fully comply with international standards. He points to a gap in the non-refoulement procedure: “There are cases when a person does not meet any of the five grounds under the Convention, but returning them could be dangerous due to the risk of torture or the death penalty. In such cases, the person is not recognized as a refugee but also cannot be returned to their country. As a result, they remain in Armenia without any official status, which is not fully regulated under the current legislation.”
The attorney noted that lawyers are involved at all stages of the asylum process.
According to Vardapetyan, the capacity of temporary accommodation for asylum seekers is limited—designed for around 50 people. “A new center is currently being built in Abovyan, which will somewhat alleviate the problem,” he said. At the same time, he emphasized that there are no separate detention facilities in Armenia for asylum seekers deprived of their liberty. “They are held in penitentiary institutions, whereas according to international standards, they should have separate conditions,” the lawyer noted.
The lawyer identifies the lack of translation services as one of the most serious systemic problems. “The law guarantees that an asylum seeker must receive free legal assistance, but it does not specify how translation should be provided. Currently, this is carried out through a program in cooperation with UNHCR, with the support of translators from its partner, the Armenian Red Cross, but this is not a sustainable solution,” said Vardapetyan. According to him, involving different translators at various stages of the same person’s case undermines the atmosphere of trust and can affect the quality of the proceedings.
Armenpress also spoke to a 65-year-old woman who fled her war-torn country with her 17-year-old grandchild to seek refuge in Armenia. The woman spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns and asked that her country of origin not be disclosed.
She said she has been living in Armenia for five months and has already been granted refugee status.
“We were forced to flee to Armenia. You know, living in a never-ending war is terrifying. We made a quick decision and came to Yerevan without taking anything with us. I cannot fail to mention that we have received a lot of help here. The staff of the relevant migration department and my manager provided us with great support. We arrived in the summer without any belongings, but we were given the necessary items, winter clothing, and assistance with various issues. My grandson has also already adapted—he attends school and plays football at the ‘Ararat’ Football Club [training school],” she said.
The refugee emphasized that she is deeply impressed and moved by the attitude of Armenian society—everyone is ready to help and support in any matter. “I have diabetes and some memory-related issues, and sometimes I forget addresses and places. Once, I asked a passerby on the street to help me find my way. He interrupted his own route and accompanied me to the place I needed, which was quite far. There are many such stories,” she said.
The 65-year-old is now learning the Armenian language and wants to stay in Armenia, if possible.