“The Shushi Revival” non-profit public fund was established in Spring of 2006, with the aim of restoring the ancient Armenian town of Shushi and restoring its status of an All-Armenian cultural, educational and spiritual center.

The Fund was created by the initiative of Yervand Zakharyan, Mayor of Yerevan and President of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Well-known public and religious leaders of Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora are members of the Board. The structure of the Fund also includes an Expert Group which is designed to provide professional advice and develop the Fund’s strategies and activities.

The headquarters of the Fund’s executive body are located in Yerevan, with a representative office set up in Shushi. The Town-Planning Council of Shushi has also been formed. Its primary goal is to create a master plan and promote its implementation.

The reconstruction of Shushi will require public and private investments. A maximally favorable environment climate with special preferential regime for entrepreneurs is being created in order to encourage investments in the town. The Government of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is currently developing legislation that would allow exemption from profit tax and value-added tax, provision of buildings and manufacturing facilities free of charge or for long-term (financial) lease and other measures, subject to minimal investment commitment.

One of “The Shushi Revival” Fund’s priorities is to develop and implement a 5-10 year strategic program for Shushi’s revival. Before starting large-scale construction work, it would be necessary to restore a number of architectural, historic and cultural monuments that are on the brink of complete destruction. Restoration of these buildings is a top priority not only because it is required for saving these monuments, but also because it would give the first impetus to the noble cause of Shushi’s revival.