Armenian government extends validity of temporary protection  certificates for  Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh

ArmInfo.  In accordance with the Armenian government's decision of October 17, 2024, the validity of temporary protection certificates (refugee certificates - ed.)  issued in 2024 will be automatically extended immediately after the  adoption of a new relevant resolution.  This was reported by the  press service of the Migration and Citizenship Service of the  Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia.

The service also reminded that a refugee certificate is not mandatory  for crossing the border upon entry into the country. "If passport  information changes due to loss, damage, or expiration after  receiving a refugee certificate, it is necessary to apply for a  certificate with the new information, as a temporary protection  certificate is issued only on the basis of a valid passport," the  service added.

The Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal  Affairs of Armenia also reported that before crossing the border, the  certificate's validity can be checked using the QR code on the  refugee card.  "However, if you try to do this before the end of this  year, the extended deadline will not be displayed, as the system will  only be updated after a new government decree is adopted," the  Migration Service concluded.

As of January 27, 2024, Artsakh residents, in addition to an identity  document, are now required to have a Temporary Protection Certificate  to leave Armenia. This requirement came into effect in accordance  with the decision of the Armenian government of October 26, 2024. It  is noteworthy that prior to the forced displacement of the Artsakh  population in 2023 as a result of Azerbaijani aggression, passports  with the 070 code granted Artsakh residents the same rights as  Armenian citizens, with the exception of the right to participate in  elections.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan, under the pretext of an  "anti-terrorist operation," initiated a large-scale aggression  against Artsakh, which led to the complete de-Armenization of the  NKR. This was preceded by a nearly 10-month blockade of the  unrecognized republic. Since the enemy aggression that began in the  fall of 2020, which culminated in the complete ethnic cleansing of  Artsakh in September 2023, over 150,000 Artsakh residents have lost  their homeland and become refugees.