Published: 17.06.2026
From 12 August 2026, Armenian banks have been required under Central Bank internal-control standards to identify, suspend or reject transactions that may be aimed at circumventing sanctions against Russia. Checks cover a client’s citizenship, address and tax residence, as well as counterparties and company beneficial owners.
According to the source, Armenian banking compliance has become a formal regulatory barrier for transactions involving Russian clients and counterparties. Even when the client is not personally sanctioned, a bank may review the payment chain and stop a transaction if it suspects sanctions evasion. This is particularly relevant to Russian non-residents, entrepreneurs and people planning to receive salary or service payments through an Armenian account. Relocators should therefore expect account access to depend not only on their documents but also on the payment purpose and all parties involved.