Shurnukh Will Remain Under Armenian Forces' Control

The administrative head of the Shurnukh community in the Syunik region, Hakob Arshakyan, called on volunteers in a video message yesterday at midnight to come armed to Shurnukh today, December 18, at 10:00 AM, to "protect the village from Azerbaijani-Turkish invaders." The village head indicated that the Armenian Ministry of Defense has removed all troops and military equipment from the village, leaving them reliant on self-defense squads.

It had previously been announced that positions advantageous to Kapan would be handed over to the enemy starting at 5 PM on December 18. These are areas that, according to Soviet maps, have belonged to Azerbaijan and are, in practice, to be transferred to Azerbaijan under the trilateral agreement of November 9. This pertains not only to combat positions but also to some roads and even residential areas.

The village head raised the question of whether the lower part of the village, as well as a section of the Goris-Kapan highway that runs through the middle of Shurnukh, would also be transferred to Azerbaijan. In an interview with Fip.am, Hakob Arshakyan noted that they met with the Russian side today and agreed that both the village and the road would remain under Armenian control. "The Russian side was also informed that we had gathered and would halt, worrying that there could be provocations or escalating tensions. They came with the Armenian side, and we agreed that the village would remain completely under Armenian control and that the road would not be divided. In any case, they will sit down just 100 meters from us," he said.

The community leader stated that he is not aware if the Azerbaijani side has already arrived: "They will probably come from tomorrow, although it is foggy now, and if they have come, they will not be seen."