RCDS Visits to HCA Vanadzor and Journalists' Asparez Club: Supporting the Integration of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees

23.09.2024

On September 21, as part of the RCDS program focused on integrating Nagorno-Karabakh refugees into Armenia's NGO and analytical sectors, we visited the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA) and the Journalists' "Asparez" Club in Gyumri.

At the HCA Vanadzor office, President Artur Sakunts and lawyer Ani Chatinyan provided an insightful overview of their work. We explored key challenges faced by forcibly displaced individuals from Nagorno-Karabakh, including their access to state support programs, legal status, and other critical concerns.

In Gyumri, Levon Barseghyan introduced us to the activities of the "Asparez" Club. Our discussions centered on the state of local self-governance in Armenia, the organization’s training initiatives, and its investigative journalism projects.

Both visits underscored the importance of self-organization and active advocacy for the protection of the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh refugees.

The project is implemented with the financial support of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation.