On Sunday, police cordoned off access routes to Kirants, a village in Armenia’s Tavush province significantly impacted by the government’s decision to transfer several border areas to Azerbaijan. The blockade occurred as opposition lawmakers attempted to visit and express solidarity with the villagers, who have been actively protesting the decision. The police blockade also prevented journalists from entering the village.
The confrontation escalated as members of the opposition Hayastan alliance disputed with both the head of the provincial police and officers from a special police unit deployed from Yerevan. The reasons for restricting access to Kirants were not clearly communicated by the police, a move that opposition members criticized as unlawful.
Later in the day, the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia announced that the restriction on entry for non-residents was a temporary measure necessitated by security and operational reasons. This announcement coincided with the start of a deployment of NSS-subordinate Armenian border guards in and around Kirants, taking over from Armenian army units that had been stationed in the area.
These developments follow heightened tensions in the village, where residents are not only facing the loss of agricultural lands but also residential properties and a crucial bridge linking them to the broader region. The situation worsened after the government resumed land transfer preparations, which villagers perceive as a significant threat to their security.
In an attempt to mitigate concerns, Gnel Sanosian, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, visited Kirants on Saturday, promising the construction of a bypass road to enhance security. However, his reassurances have done little to quell the fears of the residents. As expressed by one villager, the proximity of Azerbaijani forces poses an existential threat, leaving them questioning the safety and future of their families in the area.
