As of November 28, 2024, nearly 4,400 former residents of Nagorno-Karabakh have been granted Armenian citizenship, according to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Armen Ghazaryan. He shared this update during parliamentary debates on November 29, focusing on granting citizenship to displaced Karabakh Armenians.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that 6,338 applications for Armenian citizenship have been submitted by individuals from Nagorno-Karabakh, with 4,394 already approved. 

Ghazaryan clarified that these figures do not include minors, as children automatically acquire Armenian citizenship if their parents are Armenian nationals. These children receive formal recognition upon being issued an Armenian passport.

Gegham Stepanyan, Nagorno-Karabakh's former Human Rights Defender, highlighted the reluctance of displaced Karabakh Armenians to apply for Armenian citizenship during parliamentary debates. He attributed this hesitation to concerns about its implications for their right to return to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Stepanyan noted that many displaced individuals fear losing their repatriation rights if they accept Armenian citizenship, a concern stemming from unclear communication by Armenian authorities regarding their rights. “The possible loss of the right to repatriation is one of the main concerns that has not been properly addressed,” he stated.

While experts clarified that acquiring new citizenship does not automatically negate the right to return to one's country of origin, Stepanyan emphasized that weak advocacy by Armenia's leadership for the return of Karabakh Armenians has deepened these apprehensions.

He also criticized making Armenian citizenship mandatory for participating in various social programs, which has caused unease among displaced individuals. "This raises concerns that every effort is being made to close the issue of repatriation, causing backlash," Stepanyan explained.

Stepanyan further noted the symbolic significance of special passports issued to Karabakh Armenians, marked with a unique code (070), which many displaced individuals continue to hold as a connection to their homeland.