We Have Armenian Passports, Yet We Have No Rights: Protest by People from Hadrut in Front of the Government

The residents of Hadrut are holding a protest in front of the government, demanding solutions to both their housing situation and their legal status. One protester stated, “We are essentially displaced, we have Armenian passports, but we are not considered citizens of Armenia. We have obligations, yet we have no rights, meaning we don’t know what our status is or who we are. Furthermore, winter is approaching, and there has been no progress in providing housing.”

The man added that they received Armenian citizenship in the late 1990s, and now, no one from Hadrut knows what their fate will be. The residents of Hadrut reported that they had met with many representatives of the relevant authorities, yet their issues remain unresolved. Another resident mentioned that they have not even accounted for how many displaced individuals have housing problems.

“As of September 1, 2,500 people from Hadrut had left Armenia, and in the last month, an additional 500 have added to that number. If our problems are not resolved, I will also emigrate—what else can I do? It seems like they are simply refusing help as winter approaches,” the man said.

They express that they have no hope in the relevant authorities, especially the government. The residents from Hadrut have previously sent a letter to the government addressing the housing issue and are now demanding a response.