Azerbaijanis Explain to Syunik Residents Why They 'Trouble' Iranians: 'Hraparak'

How legal is the Azerbaijani checkpoint located on the Goris-Kapan highway? So far, only Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has addressed this issue, declaring that the checkpoint, the barriers, and the deployment of soldiers and cameras there are "overtly illegal" and subject to removal.

Tatoyan notes that soldiers, "without any legal grounds," stop Iranian trucks, demand documents, and request various sums of money, ranging from 3,000 drams to 120 US dollars.

Arman A., a soldier from Kapan, told "Hraparak" that Azerbaijani police primarily ask Iranians for "green" (money) — $100 or $150. "They do not stop vehicles with Armenian license plates — neither Russian nor Georgian, only Persian ones. People pay the money and continue on their way."

Along the road, Azerbaijanis have placed signs that say in Persian, English, and Russian: "You are entering Azerbaijani territory." Azerbaijanis even explain to locals why they specifically "trouble" Iranians, saying that when they travel to Nakhichevan through Iranian territory, they also ask for money from them.

Azerbaijani masked soldiers have taken over a house belonging to an Armenian in Vorotan, removing the owner's belongings out of the window months ago. This house is recorded as Armenian territory in the state committee documents. Locals are not turning to any state bodies — neither the police nor the Ministry of Defense. "The police only maintain order within the country, while the Ministry of Defense cannot even maintain what is already there," locals say.

One of the objectives of the Azerbaijanis is for Iranian carriers to use routes through Azerbaijan rather than Armenia.

The Iranian embassy has not issued any strong rebuke regarding the limitation of the movement of Iranian-registered vehicles in the Vorotan area by Azerbaijan. The only comment on the incident states: "The Islamic Republic of Iran is closely monitoring developments in the Caucasus region over the past months, particularly regarding the collection of fees from Iranian vehicles traveling from Iran to Armenia since Sunday, September 12. Iran will pursue various methods to facilitate trade with neighboring countries, including Armenia."

The National Security Service of Armenia seems to be functioning as the Azerbaijani press office. Setting aside the direct responsibility of border protection, this body is busy issuing press releases regarding Azerbaijani actions. On August 26, the NSS announced that Azerbaijanis had closed the Karmirakar-Shurnukh road, and a day later, it stated that those sections had already been reopened.

On September 12, the NSS reported that Azerbaijani police were checking documents of drivers and loads of Iranian trucks. Apart from issuing press releases, our special services have not taken any actions. Why? Our calls to the NSS go unanswered. We also cannot obtain responses from the government and the Prime Minister's press office. The spokesperson has not been engaged in anything in the past month or two. It is said that he is shut up in his office, yet he provides no clarifications and does not answer calls.

The Armenian state border is completely neglected. This means that we should be thankful that Azerbaijani forces in frightening uniforms and black masks do not set up another checkpoint, for instance, in Lachin, to collect money from all passing vehicles or, for example, do not destroy the concrete of Armenian highways with heavy machinery. In that case, there would be no resistance from our side either. At most, we would call for help from abroad, but we certainly would not be able to bring that help — whether Russian or European — here.