In autumn 2023, Aram Stepanyan, a forcibly displaced resident from Togh village in Artsakh’s Hadrut region, found himself in an unfair situation. Due to a system error, he and his family were receiving only 10,000 drams instead of the state-allocated 50,000 drams intended for forcibly displaced persons – an amount insufficient to meet basic needs.
The problem arose when Aram was mistakenly identified in the state system with another person who allegedly owned property in Yerevan. For a family that had already lost their home and possessions due to forced displacement, this error became a heavy psychological and financial burden. In this situation, they were forced to live in rental housing while trying to cover daily expenses and their children’s education costs.
Communication with state bodies yielded no results. Despite numerous applications and submitted documents, state bodies continued to reject his complaints without proper investigation. This indifference deepened the family’s desperation.
This misidentification had resulted in the family losing most of their entitled amount – 40,000 drams monthly. It was at this critical moment that Aram turned to the Armenian Lawyers Association (ALA), taking advantage of the free legal aid provided within the project.
ALA experts began meticulous work, gathering evidence, obtaining necessary documents, and preparing a legally substantiated application. They conducted a thorough investigation, revealing all circumstances of the misidentification and its legal consequences.
Thanks to ALA’s persistent work and professional approach, they succeeded not only in exposing the error but also in achieving tangible results. From February 2024, Aram’s family began receiving 50,000 drams monthly, and compensation was arranged for the period from October 2023 to January 2024.
“This story shows that sometimes system errors can have serious consequences for vulnerable groups,” note ALA experts. “However, professional legal support can help restore justice.” Aram Stepanyan’s case also became an important precedent for correcting similar errors in the state system.
ALA continues its mission of protecting the rights of forcibly displaced persons from Artsakh. Each successful case not only helps a specific family but also contributes to identifying and resolving systemic issues. “Our goal is to ensure that no forcibly displaced person from Artsakh is deprived of their legal rights,” conclude ALA experts. The program they implement serves exactly this purpose.