Azerbaijanis Hit Bread Truck Driver with Stone in Kut, Crushed His Head

Russian border guards are set to be deployed in the village of Norabak in the Gegharkunik region. In an interview with "Pastinfo," operator Armen Ghazaryan from Norabak informed that five days ago, border guards came to the village, went up a mountain, and then left. They only know that they are supposed to build shelters.

“The Russian border guards came, went up the mountain, then left. They are supposed to make cabins for them in the Sotk area. This is a long-term issue. They need cabins to settle in. But when it will be built, God knows. We have an area called Getuk, where stones are being thrown to make those cabins for them,” said Ghazaryan.

Incidents with Azerbaijanis in Norabak are infrequent. They have not heard the gunfire from the Azerbaijanis after midnight. For example, in the neighboring Kut, just days ago, Azerbaijanis threw stones at the driver of a bread delivery truck bound for Armenian posts.

“In Kut, the cabins are situated up and down from each other. Our posts are a little lower. Three days ago, a person named Gago, the driver of the bread truck, was hit on the head with a stone by an Azerbaijani,” recounted a resident of Norabak.

Since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops in the territory of Norabak village, people have been living under tension. Villagers can no longer approach the village's meadows and graze their animals in the nearby mountains.

“At this moment, they are creating 100 percent hindrances to our work. The Azerbaijani side is particularly concentrated in our lands, in the meadows and grazing areas. Tomorrow or the next day, they could lay landmines—who knows? We should go blindly to mow grass. I don’t know how this will end,” he said.

The meadows and pastures are located 7 kilometers away from the village. Since the times of the Soviet Union, they have belonged to Norabak. Now, Azerbaijanis are stationed right in those areas. Villagers simply cannot mow and collect grass in their own territory.

“There is a financial crisis in the village. It's an animal husbandry area, and livestock has no value. People want to sell their livestock, but today, the price for meat per kilogram is 3000 drams, while beef is sold for 1400 drams here. They don’t know what to do. Grass is also at a fire price. The price of wheat is 1000 drams, while grass is 2500 drams. People need to collect grass, but Azerbaijanis are sitting on the left side of our mountains,” added a Norabak resident.

When asked if they have received any compensation, he remarked, “Do we have a state? Who is our master? We are Russia’s subordinates.”

Animals are taken to pasture under very tight conditions. “The drought is one issue. Since they have occupied those areas, conditions are tight. The community is also rich in livestock. There are 2000 head of sheep and 1500 or more cattle. How should they maintain them during a drought? Many people want to sell due to necessity, but there are no buyers because the prices don't match,” added the resident of Norabak.