Ministry Addresses Compensation for Shurnukh Residents in 2024

No financial provisions are included in the 2024 state budget for the monthly payments of Shurnukh residents who have not yet received the promised houses.

This information was provided by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in response to a query from Sputnik Armenia.

Earlier in May, it was reported that Shurnukh residents, whose homes have come under Azerbaijani control and who have not yet received new houses, had their monthly monetary assistance cut off. This assistance was partially used to cover rental expenses.

The ministry stated in response to our inquiry that, according to a government decision from February 2021, social assistance was to be provided until December 2023, which has been executed.

"No financial resources are planned in the state budget for the implementation of this measure in 2024," the response noted.

It is important to mention that the authorities have once again failed to meet the deadlines for the construction of a new neighborhood (which was supposed to be completed back in 2021). As houses were still not delivered by 2023, the payment deadlines were extended until the end of 2023 in October.

"Considering that the construction of the residential neighborhood has been prolonged, the Urban Development Committee proposed to extend the deadlines for the financial assistance provided within the scope of the approved measure until December 2023," the government decision stated.

We were informed that construction work has been completed. A commission has been established to accept the construction works, which has already visited the site.

We were advised to address the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure regarding the issue of handing over the houses to residents. The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure responded that they are "not yet involved in the process."

Recall that after the 44-day war, a part of the village (13 houses) came under Azerbaijani control. The construction of 13 houses in the new neighborhood was supposed to be completed back in 2021. However, the deadline for completion has officially been postponed six times. The Urban Development Committee had previously responded to Sputnik Armenia's latest inquiry, indicating that the new neighborhood's construction is scheduled for completion in April 2024.