Artsakh Council plans statement on future actions

PanARMENIAN.Net - Members of the Artsakh Rights Protection Council are scheduled to announce their future actions on the evening of April 4, as reported by council member Apres Margaryan, according to Pastinfo.

The council plans to reconvene around 5:00 PM to finalize their decision and make it public by approximately 7:00 PM.

On April 3, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan met with a three-member delegation of Artsakh residents to discuss the social aspects of the petition presented during the March 29 rally.

As previously reported, starting in April, the Armenian government ceased the "40+10" support program for Artsakh residents. This decision has significantly impacted the social conditions of the displaced population, leaving them in a precarious situation.

The core of the Artsakh residents' demands remains the inclusion of their right to return on the agenda. Until this right is realized, they are requesting the provision of temporary housing without ownership rights or the reinstatement of the "40+10" program.

Council members expressed dissatisfaction with the outcomes of the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, as he indicated that there would be no return to the "40+10" program. There is concern that such steps by the government may lead to the emigration of Artsakh residents from Armenia. The forcibly displaced Artsakh residents, for whom Armenia serves as a security guarantor, have declared their determination to take action in defense of their rights.

Effective April 1, changes have significantly reduced the housing support provided to displaced Artsakh residents. The "40+10" program offered each displaced person 40,000 drams monthly for rent and 10,000 drams for utilities. During the March 29 rally at Freedom Square, the Artsakh Rights Protection Council issued a 12-point petition addressed to the authorities and international organizations. Key demands included maintaining support levels and developing a new housing program. They gave the government one week to respond, continuing various protest actions in the meantime.