On December 3, the Armenian National Assembly concluded its session, addressing all items on the agenda, including the approval of the 2025 state budget, legislative changes, and international agreements.
One of the approved bills, passed in its first reading, proposes amendments to the “Law on State Duties.” The changes significantly increase the fees for granting or renouncing Armenian citizenship. The fee for granting citizenship will rise from 1,000 AMD to 50,000 AMD, while renunciation fees will increase from 25,000 AMD to 150,000 AMD. However, a waiver will apply to refugees, particularly those forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.
The revised 2025 state budget was approved in full. According to the updated version, the GDP is projected to reach 10.891 trillion AMD, with an economic growth rate of 5.1%. These figures represent reductions compared to the initial proposal, with GDP forecasts down by 158 billion AMD and economic growth by 0.5 percentage points. The budget faced strong opposition from parliamentary opposition parties, which voted against it.
The National Assembly also ratified an agreement between Armenia and the Eurasian Development Bank to secure a $200 million loan for the construction of the Kajaran tunnel and the reconstruction of a section of the M2 highway. The project includes a 7-kilometer-long tunnel and reconstruction of a 4-kilometer segment of the existing highway, aiming to enhance Armenia’s transportation infrastructure.
The session officially concluded, with an extraordinary parliamentary session scheduled to convene 30 minutes later to discuss additional proposals. These decisions are pivotal for Armenia’s economic and infrastructure development. However, they have drawn criticism from the opposition, particularly regarding the lowered economic forecasts and the prioritization of budget expenditures. The approved budget and related projects highlight the government’s focus on addressing pressing economic and infrastructure needs.