Demarcation of border with Azerbaijan creates problems for Nrnadzor villagers

After the demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the pasture grounds of the Nrnadzor village ended up in a neutral territory. Villagers fear that they will have to get rid of their livestock, and then they will not be able to feed their families and will have to leave for another place.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after his trip to the Syunik Region, Armenian Ombudsman Armen Tatoyan said that residents of the Nrnadzor village could not use about 200 hectares of land due to the proximity of the Azerbaijani forces' positions. Local residents should not worry about their safety, believes Telman Abilov, the head of the Azerbaijani organization "Military Lawyers".

The Azerbaijani positions are located five kilometres from the residential area of the village, notes Alik Boyadjyan, the head of the Nrnadzor village. According to him, about two weeks ago, eleven horses entered the neutral territory and were lost.

"The authorities must give guarantees that residents will be able to get their livestock back if such incidents continue to occur. The lack of pasture grounds will affect livestock breeding, which was the main source of income in the village," Alik Boyadjyan emphasized.

The community of about 140 people lives an ordinary life, Alik Boyadjyan adds.

Narek Khachatryan, a resident of the Nrnadzor village, suggests that the Azerbaijani side should move its checkpoints 500 metres deep into the territory of Azerbaijan.

The villager also added that Russian border guards might be deployed here, which would let the villagers to graze their livestock safely.