Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

Since November 2023, HCAV has been providing free legal support to the forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh. Up to now, 2000 Artsakh residents have received free legal support. As a result of the legal support, within the framework of the recorded problems, more than 450 letters have been sent to different state bodies. 

Through the efforts of HCAV and the Organization's lawyer, Albert Nalbandyan, important facts of legal significance have been established in two court cases, which will later serve as the basis for unhindered acquisition of citizenship and then becoming a beneficiary of the housing program. 

In the first court case, HCAV filed a claim with the court to confirm the fact of the child's paternity, which has legal significance. M.E., a citizen of Nagorno-Karabakh, has been in a de facto marital relationship since 2022, but the marriage has not been state-registered. In May 2023, M.E. 's husband was in combat positions, where his well-being deteriorated sharply, which was followed by a cardiac arrest, and the latter died. In January 2024, M.E.'s son was born in the Republic of Armenia. The child's paternity has not been determined since M.E.'s marriage has not been registered. M.E. applied to the Civil Registry Agency of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia to recognize the child's paternity but was refused on the grounds that the documents submitted by him were insufficient to recognize the fact of paternity. 

As the paternity fact of the child was not legally formalized, the family of M.E. could not benefit from the state pensions of the RA and the support programs for the serviceman’s family members. 

In December 2024, the court of the First Instance of the General Jurisdiction of the Lori region upheld the submitted claim of HCAV recognizing the paternity fact of the M.E.’s son. 

Within the framework of the second court case, HCAV has applied to court with the claim to approve the fact of legal importance. T. L., a citizen of the NK, who has applied to the Organization, was forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh as a result of the Azerbaijani aggression on September 19, 2023, leaving some documents there that were important documents for conducting other legal actions. Albert Nalbandyan, the lawyer of HCAV, has applied to the court of the first instance of general jurisdiction of the Lori region of the RA with a claim to acquire the death certificate of T.L.’s parent. The claim has been upheld. 

HCAV continues to provide free legal support for the persons forcibly displaced from NK. To get free legal support, please call at the following numbers:

094042268

094962324

011242268

077342268