Forced migrants from Nagorno-Karabakh call for easier allocation of housing in Armenia

At a protest action in Yerevan, people have claimed that part of the money allocated by the Armenian government for housing certificates to forced migrants from Nagorno-Karabakh goes to banks for the selection of housing, and the remaining amounts are not enough to purchase housing. The protestors called on the authorities to give them money in cash or to compensate for expenses.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on February 17, the authorities of Armenia approved a state support programme for providing housing for families resettled from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Today, residents of the city of Berdzor in the Kashatag District of Nagorno-Karabakh (the Azerbaijani name for Berdzor is Lachin, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”), who had to leave their houses after the 2020 autumn war, have held a protest action in Yerevan. The protestors complain that the amounts allocated by the Armenian government are not enough to purchase housing.

It is difficult to find housing for 10 million drams in Armenia, Asmik Kirakosyan confirms.

Meanwhile, the housing certificate is provided to all migrants, regardless of the number of persons in the family. “I have four children. Is it fair to give 10 million drams for both our family and a family of 1-2 persons? What can I buy for our family for 10 million drams?” Nune Mkrtumyan said.

A house that cost 20,000 US dollars last year is now worth 40,000 US dollars, notes Levon Melikyan, a forced migrant from Berdzor. “I am a pensioner, and it is very difficult to find a job today … Let them give us compensation for the loss of property,” the man suggested.