Zareh Sinanyan on the Most Threatened Armenian Communities in the Diaspora

The trends of repatriation in the last 1.5 years have remained the same, said Zareh Sinanyan, Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, at a press conference. According to him, there was a sharp increase recorded in 2022-2023, which is somewhat connected to the Ukraine-Russia confrontation. He noted that there are periodic fluctuations due to instability in the Middle East.

Speaking about the threatened Armenian communities, Sinanyan indicated that while in 2019 it could not be said that the Ukrainian community was in danger, today it is not only threatened but has also undergone serious transformation: "This means that the majority of 400,000-500,000 compatriots who lived in Ukraine are no longer there." The most endangered Armenian communities, according to him, continue to be in the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Lebanon: "The situation there is still unstable."

Sinanyan stated that there is a desire to organize an outflow from Armenia, but there are also hindering factors. "At this moment, we have serious crisis issues with Israel, especially related to Jerusalem's problems caused by unclear transfers of Patriarchal territories and legal processes. Now, the Jerusalem municipality has presented tax obligations to the Patriarchate, demanding a substantial amount. If not paid, the state will take financial punitive measures. And the closure of the debt may occur through property or territory. This can be fatal for the centuries-long Armenian presence in Jerusalem," he clarified.

According to him, little can be done by the Republic of Armenia as a state: "Just imagine how difficult it is for Armenia, a country that is just starting to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, to influence all of this."