Russia has distributed humanitarian aid to displaced Artsakh residents currently living in several villages of Armenia's Masis municipality, including Azatashen, Argavand, Geghanist, and Arbat, according to Factor.am .
Tigran, a resident of Arbat, reported receiving a package weighing around 20 kilograms, which included both food items and hygiene products. According to him, the package contained pasta, oil, rice, buckwheat, canned meat, condensed milk, toothpaste and a toothbrush, laundry detergent, shampoo, and soap. He estimated the value of the aid to be approximately 25,000 AMD. Tigran also mentioned that he personally did not need such assistance and gave part of the package to a relative in greater need.
Reactions to the Russian aid among displaced Artsakh residents have been mixed. Some voiced their discontent on Facebook, urging others not to forget the inaction of Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh and expressing suspicion over the political motives behind the aid, suggesting it may be tied to voter data collection ahead of Russia’s parliamentary elections.
However, Tigran rejected this interpretation. "This is a totally different matter—don’t mix it with politics," he said. "No one can tell me who to vote for, and I’m not afraid of anyone. Nobody can tell me, ‘Here’s something, go vote for this person.’ I’m not even going to vote—let whoever wants to, do it."
Mary, another displaced resident from Artsakh, viewed the gesture as a sign of care. "We weren’t sitting around starving waiting for this aid, but I think we all needed it," she said. She also emphasized that he did not want Russian aid to become a political tool.
The aid initiative came from the Eurasia and Russian Humanitarian Mission organizations under the “Russia is with you” program, aimed at supporting forcibly displaced Artsakh residents now living in Armenia.
Arseny Pronin, head of the Russian Humanitarian Mission’s Armenia branch, announced plans to provide 140 tons of humanitarian aid, including food, hygiene supplies, and essential goods, to be distributed throughout the current month.
“Our focus is on large families, those who have lost breadwinners, individuals living alone, and persons with disabilities. That group includes around 30,000 people,” Pronin stated.
Still, several Artsakh civic activists link the delayed aid to political objectives, suggesting that delivering such assistance two years after the displacement might serve Moscow’s strategic interests.
