Arsen Torosyan, Armenia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, announced that approximately 4,040 families forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh have received state-backed certificates to buy housing. Of those, around 1,700 certificates have already been redeemed, and the process has accelerated in recent months.
Torosyan noted that the government has already made some adjustments to the housing assistance program and, given emerging practical challenges, he does not rule out further improvements.
According to the minister, the main obstacle to the program is the issue of acquiring Armenian citizenship. As reported by Armenpress, Torosyan emphasized that many displaced persons are hesitant to obtain citizenship for various reasons.
“I can’t ignore the narratives being spread by certain groups, discouraging our compatriots from acquiring citizenship. The idea is that avoiding citizenship might help resolve their status later, geopolitically or personally. Others avoid it because citizenship brings not only rights but also responsibilities, like potential military service in the Armenian Armed Forces,” he said.
Torosyan added that, beyond political reasons, there are also objective delays: while the process for acquiring citizenship has been simplified for displaced persons, it still takes time. In some cases, missing documents require legal proceedings. However, he noted a recent increase in applications and encouraged this trend to continue, highlighting the positive impact of political stability and peace efforts.
With the support amount ranging from 3 to 5 million drams (depending on location), and in some cases with the help of additional loans, beneficiaries are able to purchase homes in communities of their choosing.
Beyond housing, the ministry is also supporting employment opportunities. Specifically, there are plans to promote self-employment by assisting beneficiaries in starting and developing small businesses.
