On March 29, displaced Artsakh Armenians gathered at Freedom Square in Yerevan to demand urgent solutions to their deepening crisis. Organized by the Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights of the Artsakh People, the rally highlighted the uncertain future faced by thousands forced from their homeland.
The demonstrators raised four core demands:
• The right to collective return – Every displaced Artsakh Armenian must have the opportunity to go back to their land.
• Immediate social support – Comprehensive programs for housing and employment are needed.
• Release of Armenian prisoners of war – Hundreds remain imprisoned in Baku, and their return must be prioritized.
• Preservation of Armenian heritage – Cultural and historical sites in Artsakh are under threat of destruction.
Protest leaders set a one-week deadline for the Armenian government to respond, warning that continued inaction would escalate street demonstrations. To reinforce their commitment, activists pitched a tent in Freedom Square and launched a nonstop sit-in—the largest mobilization of displaced Artsakh Armenians since their forced exodus in late 2023.
Despite a heavy police presence, the government did not immediately react to the demands. Frustration among protesters ran high. “If the authorities take no action to keep this segment of Armenians in Armenia and strengthen the country, this struggle will take an unpredictable course,” one speaker declared. “If our socioeconomic issues remain unsolved, if our women and children are left on the streets, this fight will inevitably become political.”
The anger was further fueled by the government’s recent decision to phase out housing assistance for displaced families. Starting in April, only children, students, pensioners, and disabled persons will receive reduced allowances, dropping to 40,000 AMD in April and 30,000 AMD in July. Many families now face homelessness and deeper poverty.
The protesters insist that Armenia’s leadership must take immediate political, legal, and diplomatic steps to ensure their collective return to Artsakh. With tensions rising and the government unresponsive, this movement threatens to become a broader confrontation between the displaced and the state.
