Article 14.
The procedure for obtaining and
terminating Republic of Armenia citizenship is provided for by law. Armenians
by nationality obtain Republic of Armenia citizenship by a simplified procedure.
A citizen of the Republic of Armenia
cannot be at the same time a citizen of another state.
Article 15.
Citizens of the Republic of Armenia,
independent of nationality, race, sex, language, faith, political or other
views, social origin, and propertied or other status, have all rights,
freedoms and obligations stipulated by the Constitution and by law.
Article 16.
All are equal before the law and
are protected equally without prejudice by the law.
Article 17.
Everyone has the right to life.
Capital punishment, as an exceptional punishment, can be limited by law
only for serious crimes until abolished.
Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom
and inviolability. No one may be arrested or searched in any other way
than as provided by law. He can be detained only by court decision through
a procedure stipulated by law.
Article 19.
No one may be subjected to torture,
cruel treatment or punishment belittling his dignity. No one may be subjected
to medical or scientific experimentation without his agreement.
Article 20.
Everyone has the right to defend
his personal and family life from illegal interference and his honor and
good name from encroachment. It is prohibited to illegally collect, retain,
utilize and disseminate information about a person's personal and family
life. Everyone has the right to confidentiality of correspondence, telephone
conversations, postal, telegraph and other communications, which right
can be limited only by court decision.
Article 21.
Everyone has the right to inviolability
of his residence. It is prohibited to enter a person's residence against
his will except in cases stipulated by law. A residence may be searched
only by court decision through a procedure stipulated by law.
Article 22.
Every citizen has the right to move
freely and choose a place of residence within the territory of the Republic.
Everyone has the right to leave the Republic. Every citizen has the right
to return to the Republic.
Article 23.
Everyone has the right to freedom
of thought, conscience, and faith. Freedom of expression of religion and
convictions can be limited only by law on the bases provided in Article
45 of the Constitution.
Article 24.
Everyone has the right to assert
his opinion. It is prohibited to force a person to renounce or change his
opinion. Everyone has the right to freedom of speech, including, independent
of state borders, the right to seek, receive and disseminate information
and ideas by any means of information communication.
Article 25.
Everyone has the right to form associations
with other persons, including the right to form and join trade unions.
Every citizen has the right to form political parties with other citizens
and join them. These rights may be limited only by law on the bases provided
in Article 45 of the Constitution, as well as for those serving in the
armed forces and in law-enforcement agencies. It is prohibited to force
someone to join any party or association.
Article 26.
Citizens have the right to assemble
peacefully without weapons and to hold meetings, public gatherings, processions
and demonstrations.
Article 27.
Citizens of the Republic of Armenia
who have reached eighteen years of age have the right to participate in
the governance of the state directly or through their representatives elected
by free expression of their will. Citizens found incompetent by court decision
as well as those sentenced to incarceration and undergoing punishment by
a court decision that has entered into legal force cannot participate in
elections or be elected.
Article 28.
Everyone has a right to property
and inheritance. Foreign citizens and stateless persons, except as provided
by law, do not enjoy the right of land ownership. Only a court can deprive
one of property in cases stipulated by law. Confiscation of property for
the needs of society and the state may occur only in exceptional cases
with prior full compensation on the basis of the law.
Article 29.
Every citizen has the right to free
choice of employment. Everyone has the right to a just wage no lower than
the minimum set by the state and to work conditions meeting safety and
health requirements. Citizens have the right to strike to protect their
economic, social and labor interests. The procedure for realization of
and limitations on this right are stipulated by law.
Article 30.
Everyone has the right to rest.
The maximum work-week, non-work days and the minimal length of annual paid
vacations are stipulated by law.
Article 31.
Every citizen has the right for
himself and his family to a satisfactory standard of living, including
housing, as well as to the improvement of living conditions. The state
undertakes the necessary measures for the realization of this right.
Article 32.
The family is the natural and fundamental
cell of society. The family, motherhood and childhood are under the patronage
and protection of society and the state. When marrying, during marriage,
when undergoing divorce, men and women enjoy equal rights.
Article 33.
Every citizen has the right to social
security in the event of old age, disability, sickness, loss of a breadwinner,
unemployment and in other cases provided by law.
Article 34.
Everyone has the right to maintain
his health. The system for medical assistance and services is stipulated
by law. The state executes programs for the preservation of the health
of the population and assists in the development of physical education
and sports.
Article 35.
Every citizen has the right to education.
Secondary education is free of charge in state academic institutions. Every
citizen has the right on a competitive basis to receive higher and other
specialized education in state academic institutions free of charge.
Regulation of the establishment
and operation of non-state academic institutions is provided by law.
Article 36.
Everyone has the right to freedom
of literary, artistic, scientific and technical creativity, to benefit
from scientific achievements and to participate in the cultural life of
society. Intellectual property is protected by law.
Article 37.
Citizens belonging to national minorities
have the right to preserve their traditions and to develop their language
and culture.
Article 38.
Everyone has the right to defend
his rights and freedoms in all ways not prohibited by law. Everyone has
the right to judicial protection of his rights and freedoms established
by the Constitution and laws.
Article 39.
Everyone has the right to the public
hearing of his case by an independent and impartial court maintaining all
requirements of justice under conditions of equality in order to regain
his rights that have been violated as well as to ascertain the justification
of an accusation presented him. The participation of news media and representatives
of society during all or part of a judicial examination may be prohibited
by law in consideration of the protection of the interests of the mores
of society, social order, state security, the parties' personal lives and
justice.
Article 40.
Everyone has the right to receive
legal assistance. Legal assistance is given free of charge in cases provided
for by law. Everyone has the right to defense counsel from the moment of
arrest, detention, or the presentation of charges. Everyone who has been
convicted has a right of review of the decision by a higher court as provided
by law. Everyone who has been convicted has a right to request a pardon
or mitigation of the designated punishment. Compensation for the harm caused
the wronged party is provided for in the manner stipulated by law.
Article 41.
A person accused of a crime is considered
innocent since his guilt has not yet been proved in the manner provided
by law by a court's decision entered into legal force. The accused is not
obligated to prove his innocence. Suspicions which have not been disproved
are interpreted to the benefit of the accused.
Article 42.
A person is not obligated to testify
against his spouse or close relative. The law may stipulate other cases
of freedom from the obligation to testify. It is prohibited to utilize
evidence obtained through a violation of the law. It is prohibited to designate
a sentence more severe than could have been applied under the law in existence
at the time of the crime. A person cannot be found guilty for a crime if
at the time of the act it was not considered a crime by the law in existence.
A law stipulating liability or increasing liability does not have retroactive
effect.
Article 43.
The rights and freedoms established
by the Constitution are not exhaustive and cannot be interpreted to except
other well-known human and civil rights and freedoms.
Article 44.
The fundamental human and civil
rights and freedoms established in Articles 23 - 27 of the Constitution
can be limited only by law if that is necessary for the protection of state
and societal security, social order, the health and mores of society, and
the rights and freedoms and honor and good reputation of others.
Article 45.
Separate human and civil rights
and freedoms, with the exception of those noted in Articles 17, 19, 20,
39, and 41 - 43 of the Constitution, may be limited temporarily as provided
by law during a military situation or in cases provided for in point 14
of Article 55 of the Constitution.
Article 46.
Everyone is obligated in the manner
and amount provided by law to pay taxes and duties and perform other obligatory
payments.
Article 47.
Every citizen is obligated as provided
by law to participate in the defense of the Republic of Armenia.
Article 48.
Everyone is obligated to uphold
the Constitution and the laws, and respect the rights, freedoms and dignity
of others. It is prohibited to use rights and freedoms with the purpose
of forcefully overthrowing constitutional rule, inciting national, racial
or religious hatred, or advocating violence and war.
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