Ruben Vardanyan, held captive in Azerbaijan, continues to provide  assistance to Artsakh refugees

ArmInfo.Philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, who is currently being held captive in Azerbaijan, continues to provide assistance to Artsakh refugees. In the Tatev community of the Syunik region, seven Artsakh families have been given land for farming, as reported by the press service of the "We Are Our Mountains" development agency.

"When I heard  about his decision, my first thought was of Ruben  Vardanyan - even while being held captive in Baku, he still cares   about his people," Lusvard Ohanyan, one of the seven families who  received land in the Tatev community for free use, noted. Lusvard  Ohanyan is from the town of Chartar, forcibly displaced from Artsakh  and now living in Halidzor.

At the initiative of Ruben Vardanyan's family, agricultural land  belonging to the Tatev cableway was provided free of charge to  families of displaced persons from Artsakh who had found refuge in  the Tatev community for cultivation and agricultural activities. The  offer to use the land was made to families from Artsakh residing in  the nearby settlements of Shinuhayr and Halidzor. Seven families  expressed their willingness to cultivate the land. The land transfer  process was coordinated by the "We Are Our Mountains" development  agency, founded by Ruben Vardanyan.

The beneficiaries have already received their plots with notarized  deeds. The land was distributed equally, taking into account the  number of family members. The agency also covered the costs  associated with paperwork and notarial procedures, making the process  fully accessible to the beneficiaries. According to Katin Hakobyan,  an IDP from Kashatagh who now resides in Shinuhayr, this initiative  is vital for them:  "We live in difficult social conditions; none of  our family members are employed. This land is an opportunity to ease  our family's burden through our own labor."

Tatev Community's First Deputy Head Marat Gerasimyan noted that all  agricultural land in the community is already being cultivated, and  the displaced families have significant agricultural experience  gained in Artsakh. Therefore, it was important to create  opportunities for them to work and generate their own income.

"This initiative provides them with a real opportunity to ensure  their family's well-being through their own labor and reduce social  dependence," he emphasized. The program is another initiative to  assist displaced residents of Artsakh, implemented with the support  of Ruben Vardanyan and his family through the "We Are Our Mountains"  development agency. It aims not only to mitigate social impacts but  also to create opportunities for decent work, community integration,  and self-sufficiency.