Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, at a cabinet session today in Stepanakert devoted to the 2023 budget, said the country faces serious revenue shortfalls and instructed state agencies to refrain from new expenditures and financial obligations.

"We have serious problems, including a large budget deficit, and to solve these problems, difficult and sometimes even unpopular decisions must be made. Otherwise, we cannot overcome the crisis. I am saying this so that we can clearly perceive the reality and understand that together we must overcome many difficult challenges", Vardanyan said.

Vardanyan, who was appointed to the post earlier this month, said he plans to draft a more realistic budget in the coming months.