Interior Minister: There is no parallel between the situation in European countries and the visa liberalization process in Armenia.

ArmInfo. It's impossible to draw parallels and claim that current events in European countries could impact visa liberalization for Armenia. Armenian Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan stated this in a conversation with journalists in parliament on October 26.

When asked whether visa liberalization between Armenia and the EU could be complicated by the protests taking place in European countries, the minister noted that, as the lead negotiator on this issue, she is well aware of the progress of the process. According to her, the Armenian side's plans remain unchanged, and communication with its European counterparts continues. "When we look at examples from different countries, it's important to consider that we could be talking about issues related to illegal migration and protests that could escalate into a terrorist attack or other crime." "That is, one cannot draw a direct parallel and claim that what is happening in one country or another will necessarily impact the visa liberalization process in Armenia," Sargsyan explained.

The Armenian Interior Minister also commented on media reports about cases of deportation of Armenian citizens from the United States. Specifically, she explained that such cases could be related to routine migration procedures, specifically violations of the permitted length of stay in the country, as well as other circumstances. "This is the migration policy of each state. If a person violates established rules, it is entirely logical for the state to respond to such violations. I cannot provide any quantitative data on this matter. However, there is no reason to believe that any country has specifically decided to deport Armenians." "In most cases, our compatriots return to their homeland voluntarily," Sargsyan concluded.

It should be noted that in the fall of 2026, protests broke out in several European countries. Specifically, they swept France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Belgium. They are linked to the sharp rise in prices for essential goods, inflation, rising utility bills, cuts to social spending, and immigration policy.

It should be added that, amid the tightening of immigration policy in the United States, reports have surfaced of the deportation of Armenians. According to media reports, a third deportation flight from the United States to Yerevan took place in July.