Berdzor authorities decide to postpone infrastructure restoration

There are electricity and water supplies in Berdzor; shops are open, while issues of further restoration of infrastructure should be resolved after the status of the city becomes clear, the Mayor said.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 1, the Azerbaijani Army took control over the Lachin (the Armenian name is Kashatag) District, with the exception of the Lachin Corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. Some residents of the Russian-controlled city of Berdzor (the Azeri name is Lachin) and the villages of Agavno (the Azeri name is Zabukh) and Sus have decided to stay there, but do not feel safe due to unclear living conditions.

The population is in no hurry to return to the city; no more than 100 people still live in the community, Narek Alexanyan, the Mayor of Berdzor, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, electricity and water are available in Berdzor.

The Mayor has added that three shops operate in Berdzor, which buy their products either in Stepanakert or Goris.

It will be possible to restore the infrastructure in the city after making certainty of its future status Mr Alexanyan has concluded.

Karen Saakyan, an owner of a shop in Berdzor, said that no more than 30 men are still in the city. According to his story, mainly Russian peacemakers buy goods in local shops. "We bring lavash (traditional bread) from Goris for ourselves. There are several men of us here; we are trying to stop the looting. There are no policemen; and the former ones wear civilian clothes," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The city was abandoned because of authorities' irresponsibility, since they spread rumours that the city would be transferred to Azerbaijan, Mr Saakyan has explained. "The dwelling settlements that remain in the Lachin Corridor could have accommodated 5-6 thousand migrants from the Kashatag District, which has passed over to Azerbaijan. And now we need to restore the houses in order for people to return, since the roofs of many houses have been stolen; and they are being flooded by rain and snow," the man has concluded.

He believes that now, even if residents want to return, no more than 300 people will be able to settle in Berdzor.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 12, 2020 at 02:38 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.