Video: Patients from Artsakh Arriving in Armenia May End Up Outside, Reports Hetq

Today, October 16, patients from Artsakh who were transferred to various medical facilities in Armenia during the blockade and their relatives gathered near the Government's third building. Most of them have been discharged from the hospitals but are undergoing regular check-ups. This was reported by Hetq.

According to the patients, the Government of Artsakh has compensated for their accommodation and placed them in the "White House" hotel located in the Erebuni administrative district of Yerevan.

The hotel has served as a shelter for the Artsakh patients and their families since the very first days of the blockade, when patients and their caretakers arrived in Yerevan through the mediation of the Red Cross.

Two weeks ago, the hotel director met with the Artsakh residents and stated that he can no longer provide accommodation at the hotel, as the Government has stopped compensating for their stay.

Last week, the Artsakh patients and their relatives went to the Armenian Government to clarify their fate. They were reassured by the Government that there was no need for concern, as their accommodation issues would be resolved. However, they learned from the hotel director, Karen Ospyan, that the Government had not compensated the hotel.

Therefore, today they returned to the Government to ascertain where they should go next.

In a conversation with the media, hotel director Karen Ospyan stated that the Artsakh patients residing in his hotel from September 24 until now are living at the hotel's expense. Previously, from December of the previous year, when the Azerbaijanis closed the Lachin corridor, the patients and their relatives transferred to Armenia through the Red Cross had been staying at the hotel, for which the state had partially compensated.

In June, only 40 percent of the funds were transferred. Currently, 24 Artsakh patients and their relatives (caretakers) are temporarily residing in the 18-room hotel.

With the Artsakh residents near the Government building was also the hotel director. It was announced to the gathered individuals that the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs would meet with the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss the accommodation issues of the Artsakh patients.