Artsakh" width="280" height="202" />By Victoria Vardanyan

YEREVAN, August 26– According to the decision of the Government of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), immigrants are now able to privatize the apartments in which they have lived 10 years or more.

The Head of State Real Estate Cadastre Committee of Arstakh Andranik Khachatryan, in an interview with Radio Liberty, said that, “At one time, houses built for settlers were not registered. The treaties of naturalization with the settlers are concluded for a definite period, in this case a 10-year period. Now we have families whose 10-year period of stay has expired, and in accordance with the contract for resettlement, apartments should be donated to the displaced.”

Deputy Minister for Social Welfare of Artsakh, Lenston Ghoulyan, in an interview with Radio Liberty suggested that the process of granting property rights to immigrants stimulates the development of demography and the growth of villages.

The resettlement process began in 1994. The  Artsakh government considers it inappropriate to disclose information about how many immigrants live in Artsakh, as well as a list of villages inhabited by them.

It is known, however, that Armenian people are mainly populated in the areas of strategic importance to Artsakh, and the government assured that the end of privatization process will create a clearer picture.

According to Marine Petrosyan, the chairman of the Karega village community in the Kashatagh region, the government’s decision encouraged the settlers.

“Since 1994, in the houses inhabited by immigrants, grew up a generation that really wants, and aspires to a more comfortable life,” – said Petrosyan in an interview with Radio Liberty.

Yerevan Report

Photo credit: Photolur