Armenian committee backs extension of border settlement aid

Armenia’s Parliamentary Committee on Territorial Administration and Environmental Protection has endorsed a government bill to extend assistance for residents of border settlements by one year. The current law expires on 1 January 2027; the government says the extension would keep the assistance in place.

The program has operated since 2015, and its statutory duration has been extended three times. The government approved the new legislative initiative on 1 October 2026.

What the assistance covers

Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Arnak Avetisyan, who presented the bill drafted by his ministry, said the program covers up to 50% of residents’ payments for natural gas, electricity and irrigation water. It also compensates school textbook costs and families of citizens injured or killed in mine explosions.

Utility providers apply reductions to residents’ bills and submit their calculations to regional governors’ offices, Avetisyan said. The bill also retains compensation for annual property tax on agricultural and residential land and improvements to those plots in covered settlements: the state budget would pay the respective community budgets.

Avetisyan said about 1 billion AMD (about $2.8 million) in assistance was provided in 2025. Roughly the same amount is envisaged for 2026 and in the draft 2027 state budget.

Review and next step

Avetisyan said the government chose a one-year extension so it could assess how effectively the program reaches its intended beneficiaries and consider improvements. The government instructed the finance minister to assess the program’s effectiveness and submit the findings to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure by 1 August 2027.

Committee endorsement is not final enactment. The bill will be debated at the upcoming parliamentary plenary session, Armenpress said.