VIDEO: We have given so much money to forcibly displaced people, they can rent decent apartments in Armenia, says Pashinyan
During a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, Gegham Nazaryan, a member of the "Armenia" faction, expressed concerns regarding the conditions provided for displaced individuals. He stated, "You say we have provided housing for people, have you gone to inquire what kind of housing it is? I am embarrassed to see it; I feel pain."
Nazaryan questioned whether, if the government intends to provide housing under some program, it would require residents of Artsakh to pay from their own pockets. "Don't you think it's shameful and unacceptable that we suggest to displaced Artsakh residents to pay for their housing? What is the position of this government on this matter?" he asked.
He also inquired, "What will be the budget for Artsakh, given that you have stopped pensions?" In response, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan cited that a family of five will receive support of 2.5 million drams through government decisions. "We have accepted 100,000 people in one week; they do not need to live in those accommodations because we have given so much money that they can rent decent apartments in Armenia," he stated, noting that the world is astonished by how they have managed to accomplish all of this.
Regarding the pensions of the displaced, he stated that no one has been deprived of their pension but emphasized that Armenia is legally obligated to provide pensions according to established procedures. He mentioned that by granting temporary protection status/refugee status, those who apply will receive Armenian citizenship, after which pension and other issues will be resolved quickly. "Soon there will also be housing programs for our brothers and sisters displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, especially if they apply and receive Armenian citizenship," he added.