Soldiers Injured in Artsakh War Receive Funds from New Foundation

Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan is the head of the foundation. On the group’s website, he states, in part, “I assure you that the Foundation operates responsibly, is fully accountable to the public and operates on the principle of transparency. It is evident, that there is no possible way to comfort a family that has lost a son, however with this Foundation we can and will do the very least: provide monetary aid and a stable financial source for these families. We are ready to take care of the families of those heroes, who gave their lives for the defense of their Homeland. This is our — the State’s and the public’s — sacred duty. The Foundation will also make it possible for wounded soldiers to be sure that throughout their recuperation the will concentrate only on their health and on making plans for the future, while the State and the public provide constant and thorough support.”

The work for managing the fund is done gratis by Avedikian and his team, comprising accountants, planners and lawyers all on the payroll of the Central Bank of Armenia.

“In the next five years, the Central Bank will manage the fund free of charge. The Central Bank established a board that has nine members, three from the bank, three appointed from the government, three from non-governmental organizations working with veterans and soldiers’ families, as well as a representative of the government opposition, from the Tsarukyan faction,” Avedikian explained.

Money for the fund is collected two ways: from a mandatory tax of 1,000 drams per month from every employed person as well as voluntary donations.

Avedikian said the monthly donations come from the “ideology that every Armenian gets the same protection from our soldiers. They pay an equal amount like a life insurance scheme. Everyone is in this national scheme.”

He added, “donations [from volunteers] are increasing every month. And almost 70 percent come from Armenia.”

“This is our small thanks to those men, who are no longer able to fight for the wellbeing of their families, because they died or were injured while fighting for us. By taking this step we acknowledge that our nation and our nation’s defense is the greatest purpose and each of us is a means of fulfilling that purpose,” Avedikian added.

The vast majority of donations come from Armenia, he stressed.

“I was one of the initiators of this reform, and currently am the CEO of the Foundation. I thought this is a necessity for our country,” Avedikian said. That way, he said, the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice will be ok.

Avedikian said the fund will soon issue a book for the families in order to help guide them with the money, as most have had little experience with money management.

Avedikian noted that the organization is trying to register a higher profile on social media and expand the group’s efforts in the diaspora.

If the fund has enough resources, Avedikian said, the fund will move to pay out to families of soldiers who were killed or severely injured before 2017. While making the fund big enough to help the families of soldiers killed or severely injured from years past, he said nothing would make him happier than seeing the need for the fund to disappear.

Avedikian, who has headed the Central Bank’s legal department since 2006, has ties to the Boston area. He received a master’s degree from Boston University’s School of Law in financial and banking law, as well as a master’s degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

More about the foundation can be found on the group’s website (www.1000plus.am), which is available in four languages and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/1000-302935753436828/).