Passports with code 070 granted Artsakh residents the same rights of Armenian citizens until 2023

Until 2023, passports  with code 070 granted Artsakh residents the same rights as Armenian citizens, except for the right to participate in elections. Artsakh  Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan made this statement at the hearings at the  National Assembly of  Armenia on November 29.  He pointed out  that  in addition to the possibility of obtaining temporary protection  status, Artsakh residents were also being offered expedited  registration for Armenian citizenship. However, statistics show that  forcibly displaced Artsakh residents are hesitant to apply for  citizenship due to various reasons, both objective and subjective.  Gegham Stepanyan explained that the concerns of the Artsakh people  regarding obtaining Armenian citizenship are related, among other  things, to the exercise of their right to return.  “During  conversations with the Artsakh people, it is evident that the loss of  the opportunity to return raises significant concerns, and,  unfortunately, this issue has not been adequately addressed,” the  Ombudsman explained.

At the same time, Stepanyan assured that discussions with experts  have confirmed that obtaining citizenship does not exclude the right  to return. In this vein, Stepanyan pointed out that the negative  reaction stems from the Armenian authorities’ neglect of issues  related to the return of Karabakh Armenians to their native places,  the absence of discussion of this topic in the negotiations, and the  requirement to obtain citizenship to participate in a number of  social programs. According to him, this had led to a perception among  Artsakh people that everything possible is being done to close the  issue of return, prompting them to hold onto their identification  document as a link to Artsakh. Additionally, Stepanyan note that the  property rights are also tied to possessing passport with the code  070, according to the residents of Artsakh.

Speaking about the problems associated with applying for and  receiving Armenian passports, Stepanyan noted that, despite the  announcement of a simplified procedure for obtaining Armenian  citizenship, Artsakh residents still face a number of technical  difficulties in the process. “One of the main obstacles is the  restoration of birth certificates and other important documents that  were lost during deportation. Their restoration often leads to  litigation,” he emphasized.  Stepanyan also highlighted various  concerns, such as the lack of inadequate information about rights and  responsibilities regarding obtaining citizenship or refugee status by  authorized state bodies. As Stepanyan noted, in this way, the  Armenian authorities are seeking to close the issue of Artsakh  residents and finally separate them from Artsakh. In this regard, he  proposed a shift in strategy: moving from coercive tactics to more  constructive interaction with the forcibly displaced Artsakh  residents. The Ombudsman emphasized that programs should not be  linked to the institution of citizenship, and the procedures for  obtaining citizenship should be accessible and include guarantees of  the right to return.