Prostitution laws in ArmeniaՀայաստան
In Armenia engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punished by a fine of twenty times the minimum salary unit used for fines, forty times for a repeat within a year; trafficking and exploitation victims are released from liability for offences committed under coercion. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. The Criminal Code of 2021 defines prostitution as regularly, or with that intent, performing sexual acts with another person for remuneration or its promise. Pimping (Article 298) carries a fine, community work, restriction of liberty or two to five years; facilitating prostitution by creating, managing or keeping an establishment for it, or providing a flat, building, car or other dwelling (Article 299), carries a fine, community work or up to three years.
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence (Article 179.1 of the 1985 Code of Administrative Offences, still in force). Buying is not an offence. The 2021 Criminal Code, in force since 1 July 2022, punishes pimping (inducing or involving another person in prostitution for gain) and facilitating prostitution, which covers running an establishment for it or providing premises or a vehicle.[1][2]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Administrative offence | Engaging in prostitution carries a fine of twenty times the minimum salary unit used for administrative fines, and forty times for a repeat within one year of a penalty. A person subjected to trafficking or exploitation is released from administrative liability for offences committed under coercion.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | Buying sex from an adult is not an offence: Article 179.1 penalises engaging in prostitution, and the Criminal Code's prostitution offences target pimps, facilitators and those who exploit children.[1][2] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Creating, managing or keeping an establishment for prostitution, using a public establishment for that purpose, or providing a flat, building, car or other dwelling for another person's prostitution is 'facilitating prostitution': a fine, 100 to 200 hours of community work, restriction of liberty up to two years, short-term detention or up to three years. Group or official abuse: up to five years; criminal organisation: three to six.[2] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Pimping, meaning involving or inducing another person to engage in prostitution for gain or other base motives where the act is not trafficking or exploitation, carries a fine, 150 to 270 hours of community work, one to three years' restriction of liberty, short-term detention or two to five years. Against a pregnant woman or a dependant, by a group or by abuse of office: three to six years; by a criminal organisation: four to eight.[2] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted | No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in the codes reviewed. The person selling sex commits the Article 179.1 offence whether or not they advertise; a third party who publishes adverts to induce or involve others could fall under Article 298 or 299 of the Criminal Code.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Engaging in prostitution carries a fine of twenty times the minimum salary unit used for administrative fines, and forty times for a repeat within one year of a penalty. A person subjected to trafficking or exploitation is released from administrative liability for offences committed under coercion.[1]
Note. Read in the official English translation on ARLIS, updated to amendments of 3 July 2025. The fine in drams was not verified.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Buying sex from an adult is not an offence: Article 179.1 penalises engaging in prostitution, and the Criminal Code's prostitution offences target pimps, facilitators and those who exploit children.[1][2]
Confidence: medium. Inferred from the absence of any buyer offence in the texts read; the separate Criminal Code provisions on child prostitution were not reviewed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Creating, managing or keeping an establishment for prostitution, using a public establishment for that purpose, or providing a flat, building, car or other dwelling for another person's prostitution is 'facilitating prostitution': a fine, 100 to 200 hours of community work, restriction of liberty up to two years, short-term detention or up to three years. Group or official abuse: up to five years; criminal organisation: three to six.[2]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Pimping, meaning involving or inducing another person to engage in prostitution for gain or other base motives where the act is not trafficking or exploitation, carries a fine, 150 to 270 hours of community work, one to three years' restriction of liberty, short-term detention or two to five years. Against a pregnant woman or a dependant, by a group or by abuse of office: three to six years; by a criminal organisation: four to eight.[2]
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in the codes reviewed. The person selling sex commits the Article 179.1 offence whether or not they advertise; a third party who publishes adverts to induce or involve others could fall under Article 298 or 299 of the Criminal Code.[1][2]
Confidence: low. The Law on Advertising was not checked, and applying Articles 298-299 to adverts or ad sites is our reading; no case law was found.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Armenia (official English translation, with changes up to HO-258-N of 3 July 2025) Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Armenia (1985) Art. 21.1 · Art. 179.1 | Article 179.1 makes engaging in prostitution an administrative offence; Article 21.1 releases trafficking victims.[1] | 1 June 1986 |
| ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգիրք, ՀՕ-199-Ն, 05.05.2021 Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (HO-199-N of 5 May 2021) Art. 298 · Art. 299 | Defines prostitution among its general definitions; Article 298 (pimping) and Article 299 (facilitating prostitution, incl. establishments and premises).[2] | 1 July 2022 |
Timeline
Sources
- Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Armenia (official English translation, with changes up to HO-258-N of 3 July 2025). ARLIS, Armenian Legal Information System. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգիրք, ՀՕ-199-Ն, 05.05.2021 (Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, HO-199-N of 5 May 2021). ARLIS, Armenian Legal Information System, 27 May 2021. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026