There is no panic in Shurnukh village, yet residents still face certain concerns – village mayor

Panorama, Armenia
Jan 20 2021

The situation in Shurnukh village, part of which came under Azerbaijani control as part of the demarcation process, remains calm. There is no panic in the village, however, the residents are concerned with certain security and infrastructure issues, Hakob Arshakyan, the head of the community told Panorama.am. 

In Arshakyan's words, some 150 residents of the village have remained in their houses, only two-three families moved temporarily to Goris towns. They would return home once the construction of their new houses is complete. To remind, according to demarcation, 12 houses of the village, located in Armenia's south Syunik province, were ceded to Azerbaijan. 

Arshakyan noted that the major concern of the villagers is related to security. "When you know that Turks are some 50-100 meters away and ready to do anything, up to axing a person while asleep. The border guards are our hope, and the villagers themselves. The residents are calm when they know border guards are there," said Arshakyan. 

In the words of the head of the community, among the common issues the resident face are infrastructure ones. Some families face water supply shortage, as they moved to the upper area of the village. The matter is currently is being resolved. Arshakyan added that others have electrified fences to keep the herd out of the surrounding farmland under Azeri control. Some are not able to cultivate land in the area adjacent to the Azerbaijani-controlled territory.  

"There are certain difficulties yet we are set to overcome them," stressed Arshakyan.