Swiss Ambassador, Armenian Labor Minister discuss socio-economic  support for Artsakh refugees

ArmInfo. During a meeting in Yerevan,  Swiss Ambassador to Armenia, Andrea Barbara Baumann, and Armenia's Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Arsen Torosyan, discussed ongoing cooperation and shared strategic  priorities. 

According to the Swiss Embassy's press service,  the meeting focused  on focused on joint efforts to support the socio-economic integration  of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh. Key topics included the  Framework Program for Livelihoods, the economic empowerment of women,  and job creation through vocational education and professional  training.

Minister Torosyan detailed key sectoral reforms in social protection  and integration, specifically targeting the elderly, children, and  persons with disabilities. He highlighted initiatives to increase  digital literacy among social protection recipients and emphasized  the value of Swiss expertise in vocational training and  employment-related exchanges.

Ambassador Baumann reaffirmed Switzerland's commitment to  strengthening this partnership, expressing her country's support for  inclusive and sustainable social reforms in Armenia. The meeting was  also attended by Ursula Laubli, Deputy Head of Mission and Deputy  Regional Director of Swiss Cooperation in the South Caucasus.

It should be noted On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a  large-scale military offensive against Artsakh under the guise of an  "anti-terrorist operation." The aggression resulted in hundreds of  injuries and over 200 confirmed deaths, including civilians. By  September 20, Artsakh fell, and Azerbaijan began the forced  subjugation of the region. During the conflict, Azerbaijani forces  also targeted the Russian peacekeeping contingent, resulting in the  deaths of six personnel, including the deputy commander.  Following  the dissolution of the Artsakh Defense Army on September 22, search  operations conducted by the NKR Ministry of Internal Affairs  uncovered the bodies of 105 individuals, including elderly people and  children who had been brutally killed. Today, Artsakh is entirely  de-Armenized; more than 100,000 indigenous residents were forced to  flee to Armenia under the threat of physical extermination. Since the  initial aggression in 2020, which culminated in the total ethnic  cleansing of the region in 2023, over 150,000 people from Artsakh  have been left homeless.

Recall, in response to the crisis, the Armenian government launched a  financial aid program in October 2023, providing 40,000 drams  (approx. $100) per person for housing and 10,000 drams for utilities.   However, as of July 2025, this social support has become strictly  targeted. Critics argue that the government's broader housing program  for displaced compatriots has failed. Despite ongoing protests  organized by the Union for the Protection of the Rights of Artsakh  Armenians and negotiations with officials, the most critical issues  facing the displaced population remain unaddressed, leaving many in  an increasingly desperate situation.