Armenian citizenship։ a passport that helps to live

Tens of thousands of people fled to Armenia last year from Nagorno Karabakh, reconquered by arms from Azerbaijan: many are now asking for Armenian citizenship, to be able to start rebuilding their lives again

About a year ago, over 100,000 people were forcibly deported from Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia. Since then, they have gone through different stages of adaptation, they have found temporary housing and work, and can now apply for citizenship.

“For several days I was looking for a car that would help me move my household items to Armenia, I couldn’t find one, I was desperate”, remembers Karen, 40, who was one of the last people to leave Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabakh.

Karen arrived in Yerevan at the end of September with his parents. He was able to take only a few essential items and warm clothes with him to Armenia. Soon after, they settled in one of the border regions. He says he ran away from the noise of the capital, so that he could sort out his thoughts and imagine the future.

He says he had very little savings with him, his family was helped by the state programs developed by the Republic of Armenia. “At first it was difficult, but now I’m back on my feet, I’m not depressed anymore, I was helped a lot here”.

Karen is a lawyer. At first, he worked in a private company, but later he found a more attractive job in a state institution. To be able to work there, he had to get Armenian citizenship – the temporary residence certificate was not enough.

“When we entered Armenia, like everyone else, we were registered and received a temporary protection certificate. But actually, I was thinking about getting citizenship from the first day I arrived. You cannot live as a refugee for the rest of your life. You need a passport. I am Armenian, I can’t imagine myself anywhere else but Armenia, that’s why I applied for citizenship without hesitation”, he says, adding that his parents did the same.

In total, 2075 forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh have applied for citizenship.

“Currently, 96,696 people who were forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh have received temporary protection certificates, 83,942 people have registered, 2075 people have applied for citizenship, and 1437 of them have been granted citizenship. Those forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh are being served under an emergency regime”, announced Arpine Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Citizenship grants the right to vote, to be elected, to hold public service positions and ultimately guarantees a more stable connection with the state. On an emergency basis, citizenship can be granted to persons who have received temporary protection.

Applicants need a passport, birth certificate, 6 colour photos and the application-questionnaire which will be filled out on the spot. The process takes 90 working days to 4/5 months, but applications by refugees from NK are examined within 1-2 months.

After obtaining citizenship, a person is issued a passport within 5 working days; male citizens of military age receive a passport after being registered in the military.

“Male citizens of military age have to be registered in the military or, if they are military men, they must bring relevant references to obtain a passport”, explains Mariam Gevorgyan, Deputy Head of the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Citizenship is also important in order to obtain an apartment.

The Prime Minister’s staff recently issued a press release regarding the launch of the housing programme available to families forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh after September 27, 2020, providing that all their members, including minors, have obtained RA citizenship.

“It’s good that I applied earlier and got my citizenship, now that it is needed to get a house many people apply. I’m afraid there will be queues, but it’s necessary, you need a passport to live”, Karen says.