The title compound, mer-[RuCl(3)N(C(18)H(15)As)(2)], is the first structurally characterized example of a nitride complex in which ruthenium is six-coordinated to monodentate ligands only. The Ru[triple-bond]N bond length [1.6161 (15) A] is relatively long, and the trans influence of the nitride ligand is reflected by the difference between the Ru--Cl(trans) and Ru--Cl(cis) bond lengths [0.1234 (4) A]. The N--Ru--Cl(trans) axis is sited on a twofold axis.