Villagers of Armenia complain about actions of Azerbaijani militaries

The burning of the grass and the inability to use pastures near the Azerbaijani positions led to the ruin of cattle breeders in the border regions, and if the authorities do not provide assistance, a mass exodus from the villages will begin, Armenian villagers say.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on November 16, battles took place on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which ended after negotiations between the parties with the Russian Defence Minister. Both sides reported losses: Azerbaijan – seven soldiers killed and ten wounded, Armenia – one killed, 13 captured, and 24 missing in action. On November 17, a shootout took place at the border between the Tovush District of Armenia and the Tovuz District of Azerbaijan, and the parties to the conflict exchanged accusations of violating the ceasefire.

On November 16, about 700 workers of the Sotk mine, located at the border with Azerbaijan, were evacuated because of the escalation of the conflict.

Residents of the border regions of Armenia got accustomed to the post-war realities, when Azerbaijani positions are located close to their homes, and the recent escalation of the conflict did not greatly affect the everyday life of the local people, says Sevak Khachatryan, a resident of the Sotk community.

Sima Chitchyan, the head of the Kut village, notes that the villagers are still expecting that the authorities will take care of their problems.

According to her, Azerbaijani soldiers deliberately set fire to pastures and mown grass, which has made it unprofitable for the local villagers to engage in cattle breeding.