Call from Our Countrymen Stuck at Upper Lars Checkpoint Since August 30, Says Naira Zohrabyan

A short while ago, I received a call from our compatriots who have been stuck at the Upper Lars checkpoint since August 30. They are unable to reach Armenia in any way. Women and children have been living on the street for a week, sleeping in their cars, and are now facing food shortages. Armen Avagyan, who is also currently at the Lars checkpoint, reported that the spiritual leader of the Armenian church in Vladikavkaz provided them with food today.

This was noted by Naira Zohrabyan, a member of parliament from the Prosperous Armenia Party. She specifically mentioned: “Armen also conveyed that, upon the directive of the Armenian authorities, Aram Tananyan, the customs attaché at the Armenian Embassy, met with them and offered to purchase plane tickets for their return to Armenia by air. When our compatriots, some of whom have lost their jobs in Russia and are returning home with their families, stated that they had no money, Tananyan suggested yet another ‘optimal’ solution: ‘Ask your relatives to buy tickets for you.’

What I want to emphasize is this: Our compatriots are in a severe situation, sleeping at the checkpoint. Some are currently located in the village of Chmi, 10 kilometers away from Lars, while others continue to stay in their cars. Who is going to resolve the issues of these people? For some reason, I feel that our government is the entity that should take action, and the solution cannot be ‘find a rich relative to buy you a plane ticket.’ If negotiations with Georgia are failing, then the state itself must resolve the issue of transporting these 25 citizens back to Armenia by plane.

Can anyone imagine staying on the street for days, sleeping in cars, facing food shortages, and not knowing who will address their problems? People cannot return to Russia; many have no money left, and they must be transported back to Armenia as soon as possible.