Armenia Travel Guide

Armenia — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Caucasus, east of Turkey.
Language: Armenian. Russian is usually understood, but rarely used; Kurdish is sometimes used in broadcasting as 56,000 Kurds inhabit Armenia.
Area: 29,743 sq km (11,484 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 3 (GMT + 4 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European plugs with two round pins are used.
Population: 3.1 million (2009).
Population Density: 104 per sq km.
Capital City: Yerevan. Population: 1.1 million (2007).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, since 2008.
Head of State: President Serzh Azati Sargsyan, since 2008.
Religion: 94% Armenian Apostolic Church, with Catholic and Protestant communities and a Russian Orthodox minority. Armenia is the oldest Christian nation in the world, its conversion dating from the year AD 301.

Recent History

President Robert Kocharyan, who served since 1998, stepped down in 2008. He was replaced by his ally Serzh Sargsyan, formerly prime minister, in April 2008. Former central bank chief Tigran Sargsyan took over as prime minister in April 2008. (They are of no relation).

In early 2004, thousands of opposition supporters marched against Kocharyan and allegations of corruption still persist. Sargsyan's election also met with protests and claims of vote rigging. However, observers said that the election was broadly democratic.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +374. IDD calls can be expensive but in Yerevan some private phone offices offer cheaper Internet calls.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. ArmenTel and VivaCell are the local carriers. Both are similar and offer phone coverage to most parts of the country.

Internet

Available in large cities and resorts. There are many Internet cafes in Yerevan. Some are open 24 hours.

Media

Armenian government oversees national TV and radio. Libel and defamation are punishable by prison terms, and journalists have been sentenced under these laws in the past. All print and broadcast media must register with the Justice Ministry. Self-censorship is common. Noyan Tapan is an English-language weekly circulated primarily among the foreign missions and small foreign business community.

Post

International postal services are available to most countries but may be slow and unreliable, although there have been significant improvements in recent years. The main post office is located at Republic Square, Yerevan.Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

2011
1 Jan - 2 Jan New Year
6 Jan Armenian Orthodox Christmas
8 Mar Women’s Day
7 Apr Motherhood and Beauty Day
22 Apr Good Friday
24 Apr Genocide Memorial Day
9 May Victory and Peace Day
28 May First Republic Day
5 Jul Constitution Day
21 Sep Independence Day
7 Dec Earthquake Memorial Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

2012
1 Jan - 2 Jan New Year
6 Jan Armenian Orthodox Christmas
8 Mar Women’s Day
6 Apr Good Friday
7 Apr Motherhood and Beauty Day
24 Apr Genocide Memorial Day
9 May Victory and Peace Day
28 May First Republic Day
5 Jul Constitution Day
21 Sep Independence Day
7 Dec Earthquake Memorial Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

Contact Information

British Embassy in Armenia

34 Baghramyan Avenue, 375019, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (10) 264 301.
Website: www.ukinarmenia.fco.gov.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the UK

25A Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG, UK
Tel: (020) 7938 5435.
Website: www.armenianembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800 and 1000-1300 (consular section).