In last 3–4 years, 20,000–25,000 compatriots from diaspora have become citizens of Armenia: Hovhannes Aleksanyan

In more than 100 countries, there are Armenian communities at different levels of organization that were formed at different stages, said Hovhannes Aleksanyan, Head of the Integration Department for Repatriates at the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs.

“In the last 3–4 years, 20,000–25,000 compatriots from the diaspora have acquired citizenship of the Republic of Armenia. The majority are relocating to Armenia. At present, we have more than 200,000 dual citizens who obtained Armenian citizenship over the past 10–15 years,” he said.

Repatriation is observed from around 45 countries. The leading countries include compatriots coming from Russia, as well as those from the Middle East — Lebanon and Syria. Large Armenian communities exist in Russia, with 2.5–3 million people, in the United States with 1.5 million, and in France with 700,000–800,000.