Speaking in the National Assembly, Hayastan faction MP Garnik Danielyan told Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan that many banks in Armenia refuse to provide loans to Artsakh Armenians, citing previous credit obligations they once held in Artsakh, Panorama.am reports.
He asked what tools or mechanisms the Central Bank could apply to resolve this issue.
In response, Galstyan acknowledged the importance of addressing the matter but emphasized that such cases should be distinguished between systemic and individual issues.
“Since the 2020 war, the banking system has been consistently trying to help participants of the war, families of the fallen, the wounded, and our compatriots displaced from Artsakh. We try to solve these issues systematically, but that does not mean there cannot be individual cases requiring a case-by-case approach. If it were systemic, I would know. The banking sector has already made concessions worth billions of drams and written off debts. If there are individual cases, they should be examined and addressed separately,” Galstyan stated.
On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale assault on Artsakh, subjecting the region to heavy shelling. The next day, Artsakh’s authorities accepted a ceasefire proposal from Russian peacekeepers under Baku’s conditions, which included the disarmament of the Defense Army and the dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh. From September 24, forced displacement of Artsakh Armenians began, with over 100,000 people fleeing to Armenia. Only about 20 Armenians reportedly remained in Artsakh. On September 28, Artsakh’s president Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree dissolving the republic, effective January 1, 2024.
