Armenian Foreign Ministry Unaware of Number of Armenians Transferred from Ukraine

The Armenian Foreign Ministry (AFM) is unaware of how many Armenians have moved from Ukraine and how many have returned to Armenia.

In response to a written inquiry from Factinfo, the AFM was unable to provide any factual data.

On the early morning of February 24, Russian President Putin announced the start of a special military operation in Donbas. Considering the significant number of Armenians residing in Ukraine, Factinfo sent a written request to the AFM on February 25, asking for information on what measures are being taken to evacuate Armenians in Ukraine, whether any individuals in Ukraine have approached the embassy for evacuation, and how many people have been evacuated.

The AFM's official response merely states that they are in constant communication with the Armenians but provides no information on the outcomes of this so-called "constant communication". For example, it does not specify how many people have moved to neighboring countries such as Poland, Russia, Moldova, Belarus, or how many have returned to Armenia.

"To maintain constant access to our compatriots, all possible means have been utilized. The embassy promptly provides citizens with information regarding the current situation and the routes that can be taken to exit Ukraine," the AFM response noted, indicating that the embassy itself has not organized any evacuation actions but rather has acted merely as an information provider.

According to the media outlet, regarding the number of evacuated Armenians, the AFM has simply avoided answering this question, allowing us to conclude that official Yerevan has had no involvement in the evacuations and that the local Armenian community is moving to safer areas to the best of its ability.

The AFM points out that during this time, the Armenian embassy has provided support to several Armenian citizens who found themselves in distress in Ukraine, including assistance with accommodation. Support has also been given to Armenian citizens who lost their documents. Yet again, they have avoided stating how many individuals have been provided accommodation and where.