The Council of Foundations, part of Turkey's Directorate General for Foundations (VGM), has ruled to return three properties previously confiscated from the Armenian Patriarchate, Today’s Zaman reported.

One of the assets to be returned is a plot of land located opposite the Surp Pırgiç Hospital in the Yedikule neighborhood of Istanbul’s Fatih district. This area was once used by the Armenian community to hold Hampartsum and harvest festivals. In 1974, the state confiscated the land and bulldozers entered it. Shortly after, a significant portion of the land was acquired by the Zeytinburnu Municipality.

In a meeting, the Council of Foundations declared the rightful owner of the plot to be the Surp Pırgiç Hospital Foundation. However, only the part of the land that is currently owned by the VGM will be returned to Surp Pırgiç, although legal experts say the entire plot should be given back.