Property of Individuals and Legal Entities May Be Used Under Martial Law: New Law in Artsakh

On July 27, a special session of the National Assembly was convened at the initiative of the President of Artsakh to discuss and adopt a draft law amending the Law on the Legal Regime of Martial Law, along with related legislation.

Presenting the proposed amendments, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of Artsakh, Zhivair Mirzoyan, emphasized the need for regulating property rights under martial law. He pointed out that following the military operations in 2020, a change made to the law established the possibility of utilizing the property of individuals and legal entities in exchange for payment.

“Based on changes to the law, subordinate legislative acts were adopted to regulate the relationships regarding the provision of monthly payments from the state budget. Currently, a significant portion of the properties leased to individuals and legal entities is located outside the borders of Artsakh, resulting in a situation where properties are handed over for lease to forcibly displaced persons for housing support, with payments made from state budget resources that are leaving Artsakh’s borders,” said Mirzoyan.

“The amendments proposed to the Law on the Legal Regime of Martial Law remove the obligation to pay a monthly fee for the use of property belonging to individuals and legal entities under martial law,” he added.

Simultaneously, if the necessity for the use of property ceases and the property is returned damaged, the legal owner will be provided appropriate compensation based on a request submitted to the government of Artsakh, in accordance with the determined procedures, timelines, and amounts.

The legal regulations in the legislative package will make the powers of local self-government bodies regarding the declared martial law clearer and more effective. After exchanging views, the legislative package was adopted with a vote of 18 in favor and 9 against.