Seven forcibly displaced families from Artsakh, now living in Halidzor and Shinuhayr, have been granted free-of-charge use of farmland in the Tatev community for cultivation, under an initiative launched by the family of detained Armenian philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan through the We Are Our Mountains Development Agency, using land owned by the “Wings of Tatev” aerial tramway.
The program was coordinated by the We Are Our Mountains Development Agency, founded by Vardanyan.
According to the agency, land plots were distributed equally based on family size. All legal documentation and notary costs were covered to ensure that the process was fully accessible to the families.
Marat Gerasimyan, First Deputy Head of the Tatev community, noted that while all arable land in the area is currently under cultivation, displaced families from Artsakh bring significant agricultural experience. Providing access to land, he said, creates an opportunity for them to generate income and reduce reliance on social assistance.
“This initiative offers a real chance to ensure family well-being through labor and to foster greater self-reliance,” Gerasimyan stated.
“When I learned about this decision, the first person I thought of was Ruben Vardanyan, that even while in captivity in Baku, he continues to think about his people,” said Lyusvard Ohanyan, who was displaced from the town of Chartar in Artsakh and now lives in Halidzor. She is among the seven beneficiaries.
Katin Hakobyan, forcibly displaced from Kashatagh and now residing in Shinuhayr, described the initiative as vital for her household. “We live in difficult social conditions; no one in our family is employed. This land gives us the opportunity to ease our burden through our own work,” she said.
The farmland allocation is the latest in a series of programs aimed at supporting Armenians displaced from Artsakh. Through the We Are Our Mountains Development Agency, Vardanyan’s family has supported initiatives focused on employment, integration, and sustainable development for affected families.
Organizers say the goal is not only to address immediate social challenges but also to promote dignified work, community integration, and long-term stability for those rebuilding their lives in Armenia.
