What investments did the All-Armenian Fund make in the occupied territories of Artsakh?

As a result of the 44-day war in Artsakh, many infrastructures remained in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.

Taking into account the circumstance that in the recent year there has been active debate and questions have been regularly raised about investments made in the territories under the control of the enemy during the last thirty years, the Fact Investigation Platform decided to study the matter in more detail.

As the establishment and development of infrastructure in Artsakh was mainly funded by the Hayastan All Armenian Fund, the Fact Investigation Platform tried to reveal how much the fund had invested and what they had built in territories lost due to the 44-day war.

The cities and villages lost due to the war

During the 44-day war, Azerbaijan managed to capture Jrakan, Fizuli, Zangelan, Hadrut, Shushi, as well as villages in the regions of Martakert, Martuni and Askeran. Following the trilateral statement on a ceasefire signed on November 9, 2020, the Armenian side handed over to Azerbaijan the regions of Kashatagh and Karvachar, as well as Kubatlu (Sanasar) and Aghdam (Akna).

In December 2020, the Ministry of Territorial Administration of the Republic of Artsakh provided information on the number of cities and villages that have come under Azerbaijani control. According to the information, the Armenian side has lost 118 communities. Forty-two towns and villages of Hadrut region have passed to Azerbaijan. Two of them, Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd, were not captured by Azerbaijan during the hostilities and were occupied on December 12, after the list was published. Thirteen towns and villages passed to Azerbaijan from Martakert region, and 8 from Askeran.

Investments of All Armenian Fund in the occupied territories of Artsakh

The Hayastan All Armenian Fund provided FIP.am with a list of projects implemented in 1996-2020 in the territories that came under Azerbaijani control following the Second Artsakh War in 2020, as well as their cost.

Rehabilitation of roads

The construction of the second road connecting Armenia with Artsakh, the Martakert-Vardenis highway, was one of the largest projects implemented in Artsakh (AMD 17 billion 318 million 753 thousand were allocated for the construction of a 114.6 km long road).

The highway was inaugurated in 2017.

Based on the statement of November 9, 2020, Karvachar, through which a significant part of the highway passed, came under the control of Azerbaijan, and, as a result, the Armenian side can now use only the Martakert-Stepanakert section of the road.

In 2002, the 10 km long Karmir Shuka-Hadrut road was completed. More than AMD 1 billion were invested in the construction of the road.

In 2011, the 11.2 km long Karmir Shuka/Dzaguni-Hadrut road was built, the Tsakuri-Hadrut section was rehabilitated, the total investment making up AMD 3 billion 172 million.

During 2019-2020, the Hayastan All Armenian Fund allocated AMD 719.6 million for the construction of the Martakert-Mataghis highway.

In addition to the above, roads were constructed and rehabilitated in Shushi, Hadrut, Ukhtadzor, Talish and other towns and villages. In total, more than AMD 23 billion 385 million were spent on road construction in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan with the funds of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund alone.

Health sector

After the First Artsakh War, the Hayastan All Armenian Fund provided a significant amount of funds for the development and modernization of healthcare infrastructure in various towns and villages of Artsakh.

In total, the fund has allocated AMD 564 million for the implementation of these programs.

Thus, in 2007-2009, AMD 280 million 509 thousand were allocated for the rehabilitation of the Hadrut regional hospital.

In 2008, AMD 564 million were allocated for the rehabilitation and installation of the heating system and boiler house of Shushi hospital.

Water supply

In the territories of Artsakh, which are now under the control of Azerbaijan, the Hayastan All Armenian Fund has allocated about AMD 4 billion 336 million to solve issues related to water supply. Twenty-seven projects were implemented.

The largest of those projects is the Berdzor water supply system rehabilitation program implemented in 2013-2014, with a budget of AMD 542 million. In 2008, more than AMD 450 million were invested in ensuring water supply from Arji spring to Hadrut city. Within the framework of another project, about AMD 344 million were spent for the construction of water pipelines in 3 villages of Hadrut region: Mets Tagher, Drakhtik and Azokh.

Educational institutions

In January 2021, Mikael Hambardzumyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Artsakh said that Artsakh had lost 107 schools due to the war, and schools in Taghavard and Kaler communities in Martuni and Sznek village in Askeran were closed due to their location near the border.

The Hayastan All Armenian Fund has allocated AMD 2 billion 691 million for the construction, rehabilitation of educational institutions and implementation of various projects in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.

About AMD 451 million were allocated for the rehabilitation of the school after Khachatur Abovyan in Shushi. Then President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan attended the inauguration ceremony of the school.

AMD 168 million were allocated for the construction of a boarding school in Shushi in 2011-2016.

In 2007, the secondary school of Togh village was furnished within the framework of a project worth about AMD 7 million. In 2008, the same school was provided with computer equipment, for which AMD 1 million 896 thousand was spent. Two years later, the foundation provided AMD 326 million for the rehabilitation of one section of the school and the sports building.

In 2015-2017, a pre-school was built and furnished in the village of Karin Tak in the Shushi region. The project cost AMD 178 million.

Cultural programs

In 2010-2020, the Hayastan All Armenian Fund implemented cultural programs in Shushi and Hadrut at a total cost of AMD 1 billion 252 million.

A new vocational school after Yeznik Mozyan was founded in Shushi. AMD 755 million were invested in 2011-2015 for the implementation of the program.

In 2016-2017, the project of providing school equipment and furniture was implemented, which cost AMD 68.33 million.

In 2010, the Shushi Public Library was rehabilitated and furnished, the project costing AMD 83 million.

Community centers

Within the framework of community development projects implemented in 9 towns and villages of Artsakh in 2012-2017, AMD 1 billion 176 million was invested by the fund.

Thus, a community center and a banquet hall were built in Taghaser village of Hadrut region. AMD 156 million were allocated for the implementation of the project. A community center was inaugurated in Kyuratagh village in 2017 with AMD 164 million funding provided by the fund.

AMD 150.5 million were allocated for the improvement and furnishing of the community center of Tumi village.

The foundation allocated AMD 138 million for the construction of the community center in Aknaghbyur village.

Rehabilitation of Talish after the April War

The village of Talish in the Martakert region was one of the worst affected by the April 2016 war.

In 2017, the Hayastan All Armenian Fund launched the Talish Revival project, in the framework of which a House of Lifestyle was built in the village, 18 residential houses, a community center, a medical aid station, a club, a banquet hall, the drinking water network and the sewerage system were rehabilitated.

The project budget was $ 1,693,815, according to the official website.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan captured Talish during the first week of the war. On October 5, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan released a video from the village, which also featured the buildings constructed with the support of the Fund.

In fact, a total of AMD 34 billion 917 million 991 thousand was invested in the lost territories of Artsakh through the projects implemented with the funds allocated by the All Armenian Fund only.

Loosineh Voskanyan