Parliamentary Hearing on Artsakh Displaced Ends in Walkout
The Region in Brief
A parliamentary hearing on the rights and socioeconomic problems of displaced Artsakh Armenians ended in controversy September 23 when lawmakers from Armenia's ruling Civil Contract party and government representatives walked out.
The hearing, organized by ARF lawmaker Lilit Galstyan, featured testimony from displaced Artsakh officials, human rights advocates, and legal experts. Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan criticized government assistance programs, noting that while about 8,000 displaced residents received housing certificates, only half had used them due to rising property prices and program restrictions. He also raised concerns about student aid and employment support.
Civil Contract lawmakers objected to participants being introduced as representatives of the Artsakh National Assembly, citing the government's position that separate state structures cannot operate inside Armenia. The hearing also highlighted 657 property rights applications filed with the European Court of Human Rights in 2025.
