Free Legal Assistance Provided to 108 Forcibly Displaced Individuals with Support from the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia

With the support of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA), the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (ALA) has provided free legal consultations to 108 forcibly displaced persons within the framework of the “Protection of the Rights of Armenians from Artsakh” program, implemented from February to August 2025.

The legal consultations covered a broad range of issues, including legal access to social support programs, procedures for restoring documents, housing and state assistance programs, recognition of legal facts, the process of acquiring citizenship, credit obligations, inheritance matters, pension entitlements, employment history calculations, and various other topics.

In recent months, there has also been a noticeable increase in legal inquiries related to the application process and regulations of the emergency social assistance measures for vulnerable families forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. The results of the program indicate that displaced individuals continue to face both individual and systemic legal challenges.

Legal support is provided in multiple formats: through community visits aimed at bringing services closer to the people; in-office consultations where beneficiaries can visit the ALA offices to present their issues; and online consultations accessible from anywhere via the platform armrights.am.

This model not only helps individuals resolve specific legal issues but also increases their awareness of their rights and available opportunities. As a result, it strengthens their capacity and confidence in defending their rights.

ALA’s lawyers offer personalized legal advice to address each beneficiary’s specific situation. When necessary, they prepare official letters to the relevant state authorities to facilitate the restoration of the beneficiaries’ rights. During consultations, the beneficiaries are also guided through the necessary steps to resolve their legal issues.

As part of the “Legal Issues of Artsakh Armenians in Armenia” series, 24 video stories have been published, in which displaced persons share their personal experiences and the legal problems they have encountered in Armenia. The videos are available at: https://armrights.am/am/news

At the same time, systemic legal issues have also been identified. Efforts are underway to present these problems, supported by legal analysis,to the relevant authorities, aiming to contribute not only to individual case resolution but also to addressing broader systemic challenges.

The “Protection of the Rights of Armenians from Artsakh” initiative is one of several programs implemented in support of forcibly displaced compatriots from Artsakh, made possible by the financial assistance provided by the organization led by Arsen Ghazaryan, President of UMBA. A total of 2 million AMD was allocated for the implementation of this project, which ensures access to legal services for socially vulnerable groups.