An expert-level discussion took place in Yerevan, organized by the Council of Europe’s office, focusing on reforms within Armenia’s Migration and Citizenship Service and their impact on the protection and integration of displaced persons.
Nelli Davtyan, Head of Armenia’s Migration and Citizenship Service at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, outlined past and ongoing reforms, particularly the documentation and legal status of those displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. She emphasized effective cooperation with the Council of Europe and highlighted the positive results of the project “Strengthening Human Rights Guarantees for Displaced Populations in Armenia.”
Claire Ovey, Head of the Human Rights Directorate at the Council of Europe, presented the organization’s response measures to refugee inflows.
Launched in 2023 with a total budget of €2.8 million, the project is part of the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Armenia (2023–2026) and aims to help Armenia address challenges arising from mass displacement.
The discussion served as a platform for dialogue among state officials, legal experts, representatives of the displaced community, and local and international NGOs. Its goal was to develop practical recommendations to improve legal and institutional responses, coordination mechanisms, and public awareness related to refugee issues.
Following Azerbaijan’s large-scale military offensive on September 19, 2023, over 100,000 ethnic Armenians were forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Armenian authorities have since worked to manage the humanitarian, legal, and integration challenges stemming from the crisis.
