Armenia's Labor and Social Affairs Minister disagrees with former Karabakh minister on poor situation of residents

YEREVAN, March 31. /ARКА/. Armenia's Labor and Social Affairs Minister Narek Mkrtchyan disagreed with former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister Artak Beglaryan, who claims that most of the Karabakh refugees who fled their homes in September 2023 after a massive attack by Azerbaijan live in poverty.

Artak Beglaryan previously claimed that 80% of Karabakh refugees live below the poverty line.

"I am in touch with Artak Beglaryan, I wonder where he got this figure of 80%. I will talk to him to find out where this data comes from," Mkrtchyan said at a press briefing on Monday.

He said that since October 2023, the ministry has provided refugees with information on short-term, medium-term and long-term programs developed for the displaced residents of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"A long-term housing program has been launched, and an employment program is also in effect. Up to 25,000 displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh are economically active, that is, employed," Mkrtchyan said.

According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, as of January 2025, about 89.3 billion drams have been provided to the displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh under short-term, medium-term and long-term assistance programs. From April this year, the assistance will become more targeted, stimulating both employment and the housing program. -0-