Shurnukh Cut Off from Regional Center: Anything Can Happen at Any Moment, Says Shurnukh Mayor

The Azerbaijani side continues to keep the Kapan-Goris road section from Karmirakar to Shurnukh closed. Shurnukh Mayor Hakob Arshakyan informed "Pastinfo" that he does not know how the enemy managed to close part of the highway. He only mentioned that an hour before midnight, the police were not allowing vehicles to move.

"Police patrol units were carrying out duty in the village area. They received orders to stop the flow of civilian vehicles and stopped them yesterday until around 24:00, and then there was an order to let them go, so the civilian convoy was able to proceed," he said.

Arshakyan noted that the Armenian border guards are stationed in their spot, and the villagers have gone into self-defense, remaining at their posts as well. "They understand that they need to be cautious; anything can happen at any moment, we don’t understand the situation," he added.

Arshakyan reported that he has no information about the resumption of negotiations because the roads are closed, and movement is not permitted. "The road is blocked, and there is no vehicle movement now, I have no information about negotiations. They are 12 km away from me; I don’t know what is happening. I try to approach, but our border guards say it’s pointless, it won’t work," he stated.

Currently, there is no alternative route from Shurnukh, though there are possibilities. If constructing a new road becomes a priority for the residents, they will have an alternative route, as there are international organizations wanting to rehabilitate the road in cooperation with the community. The residents have been uneasy since yesterday.

"There is anxiety because something like this has not happened for a long time. They come and go, and you reassure them that everything is normal and under control. You explain to the boys who have weapons to be cautious—ears alert and eyes wide open; nevertheless, anything could happen, we don’t understand," he continued.

Arshakyan stated that since the Azerbaijani forces closed the Karmirakar-Shurnukh section of the road, they are now cut off from the regional center. "If the village in between Goris and Kapan is the last village of the Goris community, and if Shurnukh is closed, the highway will not function. I don’t know what will happen next; we will try to approach and understand," the community leader concluded.