Karabakh villagers complain about security threats during agricultural works

In a number of Nagorno-Karabakh communities, located not far from the contact line under the protection of Russian peacemakers, agricultural works have resumed. However, villagers don't feel safe and demand to withdraw Azerbaijani militaries away from their villages.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 8 and 10, Khramort village was shelled by Azerbaijanis; a villager was wounded. On March 10, the Nakhichevanik community was shelled; and on March 6, the Norshen one, the unrecognized republic has informed. Actions are regularly held in Yerevan and Stepanakert with a demand to ensure safety of Karabakh villagers.

Before the 2020 war, Karabakh had more than 130,000 hectares of fields and orchards, Vilen Avetisyan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Nagorno-Karabakh, has informed. After the war, about 35,000 hectares remained, of which, according to unspecified data, some 3000-5000 hectares are in the danger zone near the contact line.

Karine Zakaryan, a resident of the village of Atsi, believes that it is impossible to solve the security problem only by the presence of peacemakers. "It is necessary to ensure that the Azerbaijani military posts are removed away from the village ... Threatening the unarmed population is a crime," the woman said.

Kamo Airapetyan, a resident of the village of Khnapat, cannot cultivate his land located near the Azerbaijani positions. According to his story, if there is no shelling during the sowing, this may happen during the harvest. In his opinion, authorities and peacemakers should take more efficient measures to ensure the population's safety.