Land will no longer be transferred to the See of Holy Etchmiadzin for free use. The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia approved in the first reading the draft amendments to the Law on Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia “On Amendments to the Land Code of the Republic of Armenia.”
58 members voted in favor of the draft, 24 voted against, and 3 abstained.
According to Part 1.2 of Article 64 of the Land Code, land plots in state and community ownership could be transferred to the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) for free use for the construction and maintenance of churches and church buildings. From now on, land will be transferred to the AAC only with the right of use.
According to the rationale for the draft, the goal is not to restrict the activities of any organization, but to ensure a more flexible and controllable land use system.