Armenian officials walk out of parliamentary hearing over Artsakh titles

A parliamentary hearing in Yerevan regarding the socio-economic and legal challenges of displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh ended in a walkout by ruling party members. The session, organized by Human Rights Committee Chair Lilit Galstyan, focused on the needs of refugees following Azerbaijan’s takeover of the region in September 2023.

Lawmakers from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party and several government officials exited the meeting after participants were introduced using their former titles as representatives of the Artsakh parliament. Civil Contract lawmaker Mariam Poghosyan stated the walkout was due to the government’s position that no separate state institutions can operate within Armenia, characterizing the introduction as an attempt to recognize a ‘second state’ inside the country.

During the discussion, Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan criticized the effectiveness of government assistance, noting that while approximately 8,000 residents received housing certificates, rising property prices have prevented many from utilizing them. Additionally, legal experts noted that 657 applications regarding property rights have been filed with the European Court of Human Rights as lawyers continue to document abandoned homes and assets.