Current Agenda for Russian and Armenian Lawyers

In May, Yerevan hosted an international conference, the participants of which were advocates, lawyers, and business representatives from Russia, Armenia, as well as Italy and other European countries. The event was aimed at the experience exchange between advocates and entrepreneurs on issues of international interaction under the current demanding conditions. The conference, held with the information support of the FFBA and the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia, was organized by the Saint Petersburg Institute of Advocacy together with the Bar of Saint Petersburg and the Saint Petersburg law firm “Legal Fort”.

At the conference, the opportunities for lawyers to work at the international level, issues of registering businesses and representative offices in Armenia, access of citizens and companies from Russia to legal assistance in EU countries, problems of extradition, protection of property and personal non-property rights in the conditions of parallel import and sanctions wars were discussed. In total, more than 80 people took part in the event.

Simon Babayan, Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia, introduced the conference participants to the basics of the activities of the bar in Armenia. Denis Laktionov spoke about the professional responsibility of an advocate, and Elena Avakyan spoke about the protection of intellectual property in the conditions of parallel imports, the prospects for civil and criminal administrative judicial practice for the protection of intellectual rights in Russia. Her speech was made as part of a session dedicated to the problems of relocation and differences in the legal regulation of various types of activities on the territory of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia.

“My speech was based on cases that were considered in 2022 by the Intellectual Property Rights Court, including those related to issues of parallel imports and the changes that were made to our legislation in connection with the emergence of sanctions pressure and Russian retaliatory measures against overcoming it,” Ms. Avakyan said.

Other participants raised the topics of global challenges for the legal profession in the Russian Federation, investment opportunities and risks of digital currencies, regulation of the cryptocurrency sector in Armenia, mediation in business, international investments in the Italian real estate market, current tax issues when changing residence in the Russian Federation, obtaining a residence permit and citizenship of Armenia, and registration at the place of residence in Armenia as an opportunity to live there without restrictions.

The conference was also accompanied by an original cultural program imbued with traditional Armenian hospitality.

Maxim Semenyako, Vice-President of the Bar of Saint Petersburg, noted that during the visit to the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia, it was possible to get acquainted with the problems of the bar of the country, find out what issues are common to advocates in Russia and Armenia, and establish closer interaction between the two bars. “In addition, we were faced with the task of ensuring that practicing lawyers received information and knowledge about the difficulties Russian business faces abroad today in order to be able to provide them with better legal assistance,” Mr. Semenyako added.

Elena Avakyan confirmed that connections between the bars of Russia and Armenia are strengthening and successfully developing and have acquired a practical dimension.