Agricultural Season Begins in Syunik; New Captivity Incidents Possible, Says MP

Today’s main issue is not only the security of Syunik but also that of the citizens of Armenia, which remains unresolved.

This was stated by Syunik MP Srbuhi Grigoryan in an interview with a1plus.am. “When we raise these issues, the Government tries to evade responsibility and shift the focus elsewhere. If the security issue is unresolved in Syunik, no matter how many residential houses you build or compensations you provide, it won’t matter. The Azerbaijanis have now engaged in psychological warfare; when you pass through Syunik towards Kapan, the sign says ‘Welcome to Azerbaijan,’ this is a clear example of psychological coercion,” she said.

According to Grigoryan, before signing the trilateral statement, the Government should have received guarantees from Azerbaijan that no military operations would be conducted in the next 5-10 years. “The borders have come very close, and the positions of the Azerbaijanis have advanced near our communities in Nerkhin Khndzoresk, Sisian, and Kapan. Now that the agricultural season is beginning, issues related to livestock will arise; shepherds are not fully aware of the borders and we may encounter new cases of captivity,” she added.

Grigoryan noted that the Azerbaijanis will attempt to create an atmosphere of fear, although that can’t cause panic among the people of Syunik. The MP also stated that if there are escalations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the roads will be very dangerous, and therefore alternative routes need to be established.