РОССИЙСКО-АРМЯНСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

About chair

DESCRIPTION
The Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure of RAU was established in 2004. It operates within the Institute of Law of RAU and provides education in the fields of criminal law and criminal procedure.
The educational process is based on a combination of classroom instruction and independent study, as well as active student participation in optional academic and practical activities, including international and national conferences, seminars, round tables, and other scholarly events.
The Chair actively cooperates with the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, the Probation Service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, and the National Bureau of Expert Examinations of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia. Special attention to cooperation with state authorities and administrative bodies at both central and local levels contributes to the restructuring and optimization of the educational process and research activities.
Among the Chair’s academic partners, with whom close cooperation is maintained on issues of scholarly analysis of pressing problems in criminal law and criminal procedure, are the Kutafin Moscow State Law University, the Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation, the Ural State Law University named after V. F. Yakovlev, Kuban State University, and others.
In order to enhance the quality of the educational process and train highly qualified specialists, since November 26, 2015, a Forensic Science Laboratory has been operating under the Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure as its structural subdivision. Laboratory and seminar classes in the discipline “Forensic Science” are conducted there.
The laboratory is equipped with a video spectral comparator, microscopes, an investigative toolkit, and other technical equipment necessary for conducting trace evidence, handwriting, and fingerprint examinations. This facilitates students’ practical mastery of forensic research methods and forensic techniques, as well as their engagement in forensic science research.

MISSION
The mission of the Chair is to provide high-quality education and to form well-rounded, highly professional, and competitive specialists with a strong sense of civic responsibility, possessing the knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience required by modern standards in the fields of criminal law and criminal procedure and necessary for solving professional tasks.
In keeping with the values and traditions of RAU, the Chair considers its primary task to be the education of active, responsible, and initiative-driven students, guided by the principles of academic freedom, high professionalism, and patriotism.
This mission is achieved through the introduction of innovative educational technologies into legal education, the provision of necessary teaching and methodological materials, the involvement of experienced legal practitioners in the teaching process, the establishment of effective cooperation with legal and law enforcement bodies, and the conduct of scientific research by faculty members and students.

RESEARCH AREAS
The main research areas of the Chair include:

Key directions for improving criminal law and criminal procedure policy of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation
Contemporary issues in combating corruption
Digital criminal law and digital criminal proceedings: prospects for development
Medical criminal law
Environmental criminology

Programs

DESCRIPTION OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS:
Law (40.03.01, 042101.00.6)
MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS
The Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure offers the following Master’s degree programs:
Master’s Program 042101.04.7 “Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure”
Duration of study: 2.5 years
Mode of study: part-time (distance learning)

Program Director

The Program Director is Doctor of Law, Professor, Honored Lawyer of the Republic of Armenia, Judge of the Criminal Chamber of the Cassation Court of the Republic of Armenia, Serzhik Avetisyan.

Master’s Program “Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure”

The Master’s Program “Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure” is focused on the study of current trends in the development of modern criminal law and criminal procedure of Russia and Armenia.
Specific courses address issues of qualification of crimes against life, property, and public service, anti-corruption measures, judicial control over pre-trial proceedings, as well as precedent-setting decisions of the Cassation Court of the Republic of Armenia.
Special attention is given to the HELP courses developed by leading legal experts of the Council of Europe and taught by instructors who have obtained the appropriate certification.
A key advantage of the educational program “Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure” is its emphasis on the organic integration of branch-specific legal disciplines with theoretical legal studies and international law courses, which contributes to the training of highly qualified specialists. This advantage is further enhanced by the availability of elective courses that allow students to form an individual study plan, as well as by the development of interdisciplinary courses.

Objectives of the Master’s Program

The objectives of the Master’s Program are:

to expand and deepen students’ theoretical knowledge of актуальные issues in criminal law and criminal procedure;
to train legal professionals specializing in the application of criminal law;
to prepare qualified academic and research personnel, including preparation for admission to doctoral (PhD) programs in the field of criminal law.

During the course of study, students acquire skills in research and applied scientific activities.
Graduates of the professionally oriented Master’s track have a competitive advantage when applying for positions in public authorities of the Republic of Armenia.

Master’s Program 40.04.01

“Criminal Law, Criminology, and Penal Law”
Duration of study: 2 years
Mode of study: full-time
The Master’s Program “Criminal Law, Criminology, and Penal Law” is aimed at studying trends in the development of modern criminal law of Russia and Armenia, international criminal law, issues of sentencing, and crime prevention.
An important advantage of the educational program “Criminal Law, Criminology, and Penal Law” is its focus on the integrated combination of specialized legal disciplines with theoretical legal studies and international law, which contributes to the formation of highly qualified professionals.

Program Director
The Master’s Program is headed by Doctor of Law, Professor Stepan Tsagikyan.

Program Overview
The program is focused on an in-depth study of the key priority areas of the criminal policy of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, as well as a comparative legal analysis of the fundamental institutions of the General and Special Parts of criminal law. The curriculum includes the study and analysis of legislative novelties and a conceptual understanding of the innovations envisaged by the draft of a fundamentally new Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia developed as a result of comprehensive criminal law reform.
Particular attention is paid to the study of issues in the field of penal law, the main directions for improving the state’s penal policy, especially in the context of implementing international legal standards for the treatment of convicted persons. The program also provides a comprehensive examination of criminological issues related to juvenile justice.
The program consists of a set of compulsory courses, elective disciplines, research and practice-oriented components, and the preparation and defense of a Master’s thesis.

Curriculum Highlights
Specific courses address issues of qualification of crimes against life, property, and public service. Special attention is given to the HELP courses developed by renowned legal experts of the Council of Europe and taught by instructors holding the relevant certification.
Among the newly introduced disciplines, Medical Criminal Law deserves particular mention.
These advantages are further reinforced by the availability of elective courses that enable students to design an individual study plan, as well as by the development of interdisciplinary courses.

Objectives of the Master’s Program
The objectives of the Master’s Program are:

to expand and deepen students’ theoretical knowledge of current issues in criminal law, penal law, and criminology;
to train specialists in the practical application of criminal law;
to prepare qualified academic and research personnel, including preparation for admission to doctoral (PhD) programs in the field of criminal law.

During the course of study, students acquire skills in research and applied academic activities.
Graduates of the professionally oriented Master’s track have a competitive advantage when applying for positions in public authorities and local self-government bodies in both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia.
Courses are taught by distinguished scholars and legal practitioners from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia.

Master’s Program 40.04.01
“Lawyer in the Field of Criminal Procedure”
Program Director: Candidate of Legal Sciences (PhD in Law), Lecturer John Hayrapetyan
The program is designed for an in-depth theoretical and practical study and scholarly analysis of current issues in criminal procedure science, identification of existing legal gaps and conflicts, and the development of key approaches to their elimination and improvement. Special attention is paid to the study of issues related to the theory of evidence at various stages of criminal proceedings, including the specifics of the evidentiary process at different stages of the criminal process, as well as prospects and key directions for the development of evidentiary law.
In the modern criminal process, fundamental importance is attached to issues of interaction between operational-search activities and criminal procedural activities, as well as the growing integration of elements of operational-search law into criminal procedure.
The program includes a range of compulsory courses, elective disciplines, research and practice-oriented work, and the preparation and defense of a Master’s thesis.

Master’s Program 042802.03.7
“Forensic Science”
Duration of study: 1 year
Mode of study: part-time
Program Director: Candidate of Legal Sciences (PhD in Law), Associate Professor N. Yu. Zograbyan, Head of the Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
“Forensic Science” is a Master’s program with no analogues in the Armenian educational market.
The Master’s program is delivered by a highly qualified faculty with extensive experience in both academic research and professional practice. The program also involves leading forensic experts (practicing specialists) from the National Bureau of Expert Examinations, senior specialists of the Investigative Committee, representatives of the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and the legal profession.
Within the framework of the program, students acquire in-depth and comprehensive knowledge in the field of forensic science, enabling them to become experts in various areas of forensic practice.
In addition, the curriculum includes the study of fundamental aspects of criminal procedure, the use of results of operational-search activities, and the specifics and types of forensic examinations, thereby significantly expanding graduates’ future employment opportunities.
Practical training forms the cornerstone of close integration between students and their future professional activities. During internships, students not only acquire essential practical skills but also collect materials for their Master’s thesis.
Career Opportunities: expert institutions, agencies conducting preliminary investigations, inquiry and operational-search activities, the judicial system, prosecution authorities, and bodies responsible for ensuring economic security.

POSTGRADUATE STUDIES (PhD PROGRAM)
The Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure of the Institute of Law of RAU coordinates postgraduate training under specialty 5.1.4 Criminal Law Sciences.
The PhD program is aimed at training highly qualified specialists capable of addressing the university’s research challenges in the near future.
PhD students and external doctoral candidates are provided with a unique opportunity to gain invaluable research experience and acquire top-level academic knowledge, enabling them to successfully pursue research, teaching, and practical professional activities. The program involves intensive research work and participation in university research projects under the supervision of leading scholars.
Over the past twenty years, the Chair has trained more than 60 PhD students and external candidates.

DOCTORAL STUDIES (DSc PROGRAM)
The Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure of the Institute of Law of RAU coordinates doctoral training under the following specialty:
12.00.08 Criminal Law and Criminology; Penal Law
The program is designed to prepare doctoral candidates for independent research, teaching, and innovative activities within the framework of postgraduate education.
The core focus of the program is the mastery of research methodology and academic writing techniques in the field of law. Successful completion of the program also presupposes the acquisition of substantial practical skills for legal application, enabling graduates to address complex theoretical and practical problems.

Criminal Law Sciences Enthusiasts’ Club
The Chair hosts the “Criminal Law Sciences Enthusiasts’ Club.”
The main activity of the Club is the organization and conduct of discussion-based events through the presentation and substantiation of reports on the one hand, and structured counter-argumentation by pre-appointed “opponents” on the other.
The Club’s activities also include:

preparation of student papers for external academic conferences, competitions, and academic contests;
organization of business games and legal simulations;
visits to courts, investigative bodies, and other state institutions.

12.00.08. "Criminal Law and Criminology; Criminal Executive Law"

Zohrabyan Naira

Director of the Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law of the Institute of Law of the RAU. PhD of Law, Associate Professor

[email protected]

Information

Education, Academic Degrees, and Titles
2009: Russian-Armenian University (RAU) – Specialist degree and Postgraduate studies.

Degree: PhD in Law (Candidate of Legal Sciences).
Specialization: Criminal Law, Criminology, Criminal Executive Law.

Thesis Topic: "Problems of differentiation and individualization of liability based on the characteristics of the subject of crime."
2010–2013: Doctoral studies at Russian-Armenian University, Specialization 12.00.08: "Criminal Law and Criminology; Criminal Executive Law."

Awards / Honors
Certificate of Scientific Supervisor for victory in the competition "My Legislative Initiative."
Diploma for preparing a laureate in the competition "My Legislative Initiative."

Professional Interests Problems of criminal liability of legal entities, criminal executive legislation under martial law or state of emergency, digital criminal law: development perspectives, optimization of criminal legislation of Armenia and Russia based on the adoption of positive experience, legal regulation of dental activity, medical criminal law, differentiation of criminal liability as a priority direction of criminal policy, improvement of criminal legislation of Armenia and Russia based on the doctrine of legislative technique, problems of development and improvement of alternative types of punishment.

Work Experience
Current Position: Head of the Department of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at the Institute of Law, Russian-Armenian University (RAU).
Since 2015: Associate Professor (Docent) at the Department of Medical Law, Yerevan State Medical University named after Mkhitar Heratsi (YSMU).

Scientific and Pedagogical Experience: 22 years. Work Experience at RAU: 22 years.

Languages Armenian, Russian, English.

Courses Taught (2025-2026 Academic Year)
"Criminal Law" (Bachelor's Degree).
"Actual Problems of Criminal Law of the RA" (Bachelor's Degree).
"Features of Criminal Law of the RF" (Bachelor's Degree).
"Scientific Bases of Crime Qualification" (Bachelor's Degree).
"Problems of the Legal Status of Persons Serving Sentences" (Master's Degree).
"Criminal Executive Law of the RF/RA" (Bachelor's Degree).

Selected Scientific Publications

Проблемы определения ограниченной вменяемости и практика ее применения, Статья в научном журнале, Международная Студенческая Годичная научная конференция. 21–23 апреля 2025г.– Ер.։ Издательство РАУ, 2025. Том I.– 363с.
Уголовно-правовая охрана эмбриона (плода) в Российской Федерации и в Республике Армения в свете принятия нового УК РА, Статья в научном журнале, Вестник Челябинского государственного университета. Серия: Право.2025. С.22-32
Критический анализ системы обстоятельств, исключающих уголовную ответственность по новому уголовному законодательству Республики Армения // Сборник научных трудов международной научно-практической конференции: Актуальные проблемы уголовного законодательства и правоприменительной практики стран-участниц СНГ.- Ер.: РАУ, 2022.- С. 73-79.
Н․Ю․ Зограбян Учебно-методическое пособие по курсу "Научные основы квалификации преступлений"/ Н․Ю․ Зограбян - Ер․։ Изд-во РАУ․ 2022. 276 с
Зограбян Н.Ю. Некоторые вопросы института соучастия в контексте нового Уголовного кодекса Республики Армении // Российское право на современном этапе : сборник научных статей по материалам ΧVI международной научно-практической конференции (27 апреля 2022 года) / отв. ред. доктор юридических наук, профессор А.Н. Позднышов. – Ростов-на-Дону : Издательско-полиграфический комплекс Рост. гос. экон. ун-та (РИНХ), 2022. – c. 131-134.
Проблемные аспекты разграничения грабежа и разбоя // Вестник Ярославского Государственного Университета им. П.Г.Демидова. 2021. № 7. С. 21-23.
Особенности обеспечения прав осужденных в Республике Армения // Сборник научных трудов конференции "Обеспечение прав человека в уголовно-исполнительной системе Российской Федерации", организованной ФСИН РФ. 2021. № 2. С. 32-34.
Юридическая природа добровольного отказа и его различие от деятельного раскаяния. Сборник статей Четырнадцатой годичной научной конференции РАУ. 2020. С.113-122.
Проблемы запрета пыток и разграничения пыток и других форм дурного обращения. Вестник Месроп Маштоц. Арцах. Январь 2020.
Առողջապահության ոլորտը կարգավորող միջազգային իրավական ակտերի վերլուծություն. ԲԱՆԲԵՐ 2020(2).
Պրոբացիոն ծառայության գործառույթներն ու ակներև մարտահրավերները. Արդարադատություն N 3(52). Էջ 43-47.2020.
Ստոմոտոլոգիական գործունեության իրավական կարգավորումը․Ուսումնական ձեռնարկ. 2019 թ. ԵՊԲՀ 73 էջ.
Некоторые вопросы, касающиеся уголовной ответственности лиц, совершивших преступление в состоянии алкогольного или наркотического опьянения. Студенческая годичная научная конференция. Сборник научных трудов. Изд-во РАУ 2019.
Некоторые проблемы признания юридического лица как субъекта преступления. 13-годичная научная конференция. Сборник научных трудов, Ереван. Изд-во РАУ 2018.
Юридическая энциклопедия. Российско - Армянский университет. Ереван. 2017
Обеспечение права на здоровье в пенитенциарных учреждениях. Вектор науки Тольяттинского Государственного Университета №13 (8) 2016. С. 134-143
Некоторые вопросы уголовно-правового регулирования организованной преступной группы в Республике Армения и в странах СНГ. Вектор науки Тольяттинского Государственного Университета. №11 (9). 2015.
Уголовное право Армении и России. Общая и Особенная часть. М.: КОНТРАКТ, 2014.Главы 5, 8,23.
Предпосылки формирования института уголовной ответственности юридических лиц в УК РА и УК РФ. Правосудие. Июнь. №2 (2) 2011. С.58-63.