After enduring the horrors of war and months of blockade, the forcibly displaced people of Artsakh now face new challenges in Armenia. Although their database was preserved and transferred to the relevant ministries and agencies, they continue encountering numerous bureaucratic obstacles\u2014from document processing and residency registration to securing loans and accessing targeted state financial assistance. Yet perhaps the most distressing issue is the negative attitude shown by segments of the local population, fueled by the hostility propagated through government-aligned media outlets, proxy influencers, bloggers, and even some officials.<\/p>\n
Many media outlets have reported on the outrageous treatment and arbitrariness displayed by the \u201cvelvet authorities\u201d toward the refugees from Artsakh. For example, in an article published on April 8, 2024, the online outlet step1.am outline a range of challenges the Artsakh people are facing in Armenia.<\/p>\n
In December 2024, the Armenia Today media outlet spoke with more than 20 entrepreneurs from Artsakh to learn about the obstacles and challenges they face when attempting to start a business in Armenia. The businessmen also shared what support measures could help them adapt their businesses to the new environment and eventually expand. Below are some quotes from the Artsakh entrepreneurs:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAfter the 2020 war, when the Turks occupied our land, we were forced to buy a new plot\u2014three hectares for 11 million drams. We cultivated it and planted nut trees. I\u2019d like to do the same here, but land is very expensive, and there\u2019s no support or assistance from the government. At the very least, they could give us some time to get back on our feet, start earning an income, and then pay for the lease and taxes. But we still need that time. To become competitive, we have to offer a better product, which requires access to quality raw materials,\u201d says Alvina Gabrielyan, founder of the bakery A Piece of Happiness.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Donara Gasparyan, founder of the bakery brand Donara\u2019s Zhengyalov Hats, who restarted her business from scratch in Yerevan\u2014producing her signature herb-stuffed flatbread, along with bread and pastries\u2014says the most pressing issue is the heavy tax burden. She believes many residents of Artsakh urgently need government support in this regard.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIf the government could help by reducing taxes, it would be a great relief. I\u2019m speaking not only for myself, but for all Artsakh residents,\u201d says Donara.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In fact, the people of Artsakh, who were forcibly displaced as a result of Azerbaijan\u2019s aggression, have found themselves as foreign natives in Armenia \u2014 belonging by origin, yet treated as strangers. In this light, many of them are considering leaving the country.<\/p>\n
Referring to the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia, mass media outlets report quite contradictory data on the Artsakh people who leave Armenia forever. For instance:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBetween September 27, 2020, and October 1, 2024, a total of 47,212 people forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh left Armenia, and only 18,734 of them have returned,\u201d reads the response from the National Security Service to a request by Armenia Today.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetween September 27, 2020, and July 24, 2024, 49,975 people registered in Nagorno Karabakh left Armenia, and only 26,571 of them have returned, and the remaining 23,404 haven\u2019t,\u201d reads another response from the National Security Service to a request by Armenia Today.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to statistics published by the National Security Service of Armenia, as of January 1, 2025, 26,397 people forcibly displaced from Artsakh had left Armenia, while only 14,871 had returned. This means that following the 2020 war and the mass displacement in September 2023, 11,526 Artsakh residents left Armenia and have not yet returned,\u201d armnews.am reports.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
How is it possible that, according to official data, 48,975 people had left Armenia as of July 1, 2024, 47,105 as of October 1, 2024, and only 26,397 as of January 1, 2025? These contradictions strongly suggest that the National Security Service does not have reliable or accurate data.<\/p>\n
Based on the above, it can be concluded that Nikol Pashinyan\u2019s \u201cvelvet\u201d government is pursuing a policy of segregation against the forcibly displaced people, with the apparent aim of driving them out of Armenia.<\/p>\n
This is nothing short of a synergy between Nikol Pashinyan's 'velvet' government and Ilham Aliyev's genocidal policies. This alignment is also evident between the authorities and certain opposition forces in Armenia. Their actions do not aim to address the issues faced by the forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians. Instead, they exploit their suffering for political gain.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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