In Kirants, the village in Armenia’s Tavush Province, a heightened state of alert persists. The villagers are determined not to allow any work in areas they consider their own, with ownership certificates from Soviet times backing their claim. This determination has led them to station themselves at the entrance to Kheirimli, preventing potential surveyors from encroaching on their village’s territory.
As tensions rise, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has warned of potential conflicts until the border with Azerbaijan is officially defined. The people of Tavush fear that the demarcation could lead to the transfer of Armenian territories to Azerbaijan, including Kirants. To raise awareness about their struggle against this threat, a march led by His Holiness Bagrat, head of Tavush Diocese, was held from Sevan to Yerevan.
While authorities believe that demarcation reduces security risks and police forces patrol the area and guard the roads that remain open, observation by “Azatutyun” did not reveal any groups carrying out work activities in demarcation areas. The situation in Kirants is relatively calm but remains tense as tensions continue between security concerns and territorial claims in the region.
