The Armenian Government today discussed and published an important decision regarding the provision of material assistance to citizens of the Republic of Armenia affected during the March 1 events, or to their legal successors. This information was reported by Armenpress.
The source specifically noted that 720 million drams will be allocated to provide assistance to those affected and to the families of those killed during the events that took place in Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008.
Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan stated that this decision is conditioned by Article 3, Part 1 of the law “On Assistance to Persons Affected During the Events of March 1-2, 2008 in the City of Yerevan,” adopted on June 4, 2019.
According to the Minister, 30 million drams will be allocated to the legal successors of those who died during those events, 15 million drams to those who sustained severe bodily injuries, and 5 million drams to those who sustained injuries of moderate severity.
It has been calculated that assistance will be provided to the relatives of 10 victims, 10 severely injured persons, and 54 persons with injuries of moderate severity.
Speaking on the same topic during today’s government session, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that this is not compensation but assistance. “My position is that, due to well-known circumstances, we must make decisions regarding the issue of compensation based on the decisions rendered by the European Court of Human Rights. Why do I say this, I specifically emphasize this, because it is a well-known fact that I also have a connection to the events of March 1-2, and it is very important that decisions on this matter be made as objectively as possible. But since we do not know when the European Court of Human Rights will render decisions on this matter, and so that it does not happen that under these conditions our government takes no measure to show support to the victims and those affected of March 1, we are making this decision now based on the law adopted by the National Assembly. We shall completely close the topic of compensation for the damage ultimately incurred based on the ECHR’s decisions. I mean the amount, what amount of compensation we should give,” said the Prime Minister.
