The Armenian government has approved amendments to the Land Code, revising the mechanism for allocating land and ending the provision of plots to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin as free ownership.

Land plots will no longer be granted to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under free ownership. The government approved the draft law “On Amendments to the Land Code of the Republic of Armenia,” which revises the existing regulation, Sputnik Armenia reports.

Under Article 64, Part 1.2 of the Land Code, land owned by the state or communities could previously be transferred free of charge into ownership of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church for the construction and maintenance of churches and related facilities. The new draft proposes abandoning this approach.

The justification states that such regulation is no longer considered appropriate, as another mechanism already exists in the Land Code. Reference is made to Article 75, which provides for granting state- or community-owned land for free permanent use without a tender. In other words, legislation already allowed land to be allocated without transferring ownership.

The draft proposes repealing Article 64, Part 1.2 of the Land Code, meaning state or community lands will no longer be transferred into ownership, but will be granted solely under usage rights.

According to the justification, the purpose of the change is not to restrict the activities of any institution, but to ensure a more flexible and controllable system of land use.