Azerbaijanis Start Operating Equipment and Opening Roads in the Mountains of Verin Shorja

The situation in the border communities of Gegharkunik remains tense. Azerbaijani positions are close to the mountain pastures of Verin Shorja. Since May 12, Azerbaijani forces on the territory of the Republic of Armenia have started engineering works, operating equipment, and constructing a road connecting their positions.

Artyom Yeranosyan, the head of the Verin Shorja community, informed a Factinfo correspondent that there are pastures in the mountain area where local farmers used to take their livestock. However, they can no longer graze their animals on the hillside due to the presence of Azerbaijani troops. Residents are now forced to take their livestock to Shorja rather than approaching the Azerbaijani border.

Yeranosyan was unaware of the incidents recorded by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, which reported that Azerbaijanis are descending with vehicles towards the pastures of Verin Shorja and displaying cynical behavior while intimidating local farmers with the show of arms. According to him, there are wooden shacks in the Vardenis mountain area, built by the residents, and the Azerbaijanis have occupied the area above those shacks. "They have reached somewhere between 400-500 meters; they are positioned in their posts. Residents of Vardenis keep their livestock there. This area is flat, which rises immediately to the mountain; they are very close—so close," said the head of the Verin Shorja community.

The community leader noted that Azerbaijani-operated machinery is now visible, which has been deployed for construction to facilitate the movement of Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Until recently, no equipment was observed, but now Azerbaijani vehicles are moving along the hillside. "There is movement on the hill; they are operating tractors. We see them very well now; before it was not visible. The Azerbaijanis are operating equipment to open a road for smooth vehicle passage from position to position; until today, no vehicles were observed. Their posts are not far from each other—500 meters, 1 kilometer, wherever it is convenient for them, they have selected and placed their posts," he elaborated.

From the positions that the Azerbaijanis have selected, settled, and even started construction, they keep the mountain area under observation. The elevation also provides a view of Lake Sevan. Verin Shorja stands at an altitude of 2430 meters. "The hill is steep. In some places, it is close to the fields; in other areas, it is near the pastures—their posts are not straight lines," Yeranosyan explained. He mentioned that he visits the pasturing areas every day, where residents live in small shacks during the summer season for six months. There are ten families living there, of which only four were at their shacks when the Azerbaijanis appeared on May 12.

It should be noted that yesterday, the head of the Kut community also informed Factinfo that Azerbaijanis have begun land works in the heights they occupy. In his opinion, the enemy is fortifying its positions.