Armenia

If you possess, use or smuggle illegal drugs, including cannabis, you can get heavy fines and a long jail sentence, including when transiting through the airport. The penalty for smuggling drugs is a prison sentence of between 4 and 10 years. 

It is illegal to use, possess or trade marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD), or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. You can be prosecuted for having these substances even when they are prescribed for medical purposes. 

Airports in Armenia have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

It is illegal to photograph sites such as military bases, equipment and installations. These are considered sensitive areas and visitors have been detained and questioned for attempting to photograph them. 

Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2003 but many Armenians still view same-sex couples with disapproval. LGBT+ people in Armenia tend to be discreet about their sexuality. Local LGBT+ groups occasionally suffer from verbal and physical harassment. Physical contact between members of the same sex, such as holding hands and kissing, are common signs of friendship in Armenian culture, and not necessarily an indicator of sexual orientation. 

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers. 

Armenian society does not tolerate drinking to excess as this leads to disorderly behaviour, particularly during the late evening and through the night. British nationals have been arrested for drunken behaviour.

There is a risk of earthquakes. The last serious earthquake was in 1988 in the Lori region in the north. It killed between 25,000 and 50,000 people, injured thousands and left several cities in ruins. 

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.