80 Families May Find Themselves on the Street: 'Hraparak'

Families of Artsakh residents who were recognized as dead or missing as a result of the 44-day war are facing the danger of losing their homes in Armenia. This concerns more than 80 families, who have been notified that if they do not fulfill their loan obligations by May 1, their mortgage will be deemed overdue, and their property will be seized.

Following the 2020 war, the Government of Artsakh provided certificates to these families for acquiring housing in Armenia, under decision 505-N dated May 10, 2022. According to this decision, the certificate guarantees state assistance for the acquisition of residential property through a mortgage loan in Armenia. The agreement is trilateral, involving the borrowing family, the bank, and the Artsakh Committee on Housing Issues. Previously, the loans were paid from the Artsakh Investment Fund.

However, after the events of September 2023, when Artsakh was depopulated, this issue arose; since then, the loans have been frozen, and just weeks ago, people were informed that if they do not pay their loans, the foreclosure process will begin. Meanwhile, the Artsakh residents believe that the Armenian authorities could resolve the issue in one day by re-registering the Artsakh Investment Fund, which owns more than 45% of Artsakhbank and could continue to fulfill its obligations. It seems that the Armenian government has decided to deprive these families of their homes, seize their property, and force them to emigrate from Armenia.