20-30 Cars to Gather and Cross to Goris with Russian Escort: Shurnukh Mayor

Residents are moving in groups along the Goris-Kapan highway with the escort of Russian forces. This was stated by the mayor of Shurnukh, Hakob Arshakyan, in an interview with "Factinfo."

“In reality, it is not something one can easily see; it reflects the status quo that exists. We need to gather 20-30 cars and cross to Goris with the escort of the Russians,” he said.

According to Arshakyan, residents are trying to avoid the main highway to prevent encountering obstacles. The people of Shurnukh cannot get used to the sight of Azerbaijani police checkpoints. “In Shurnukh, it is primarily young men who live, and seeing this situation is extremely hard for them. It was difficult for me when I passed through that section. If it is dangerous during the day, it will also be dangerous at night. Another 20 cars will gather to cross in the evening, escorted by the Russians,” he noted, having traveled along the Goris-Kapan highway that morning.

He learned about two citizens who disappeared from the road and ended up under Azerbaijani control on the evening of September 18 through social media, stating that it was simply impossible to deviate from the road. “No one can deviate from that road and claim they got confused and entered their territory. Such a thing does not exist. Who can deviate from the M2 and go where knows not? We know how they act. Similar incidents may recur, whether one has participated in the war or not, they could just take someone; it is a possible scenario,” he remarked.

Arshakyan emphasizes that the aim of the Azerbaijani side is clear, as they have always claimed that these territories are supposedly theirs. As of today, according to the village mayor, the road has effectively become theirs. “If people are traveling with the escort of Russian peacekeepers today, it means they have already made the road theirs,” he stated.

He further noted that there are no issues in the Shurnukh, Karmrakar area, which had been blocked by Azerbaijanis about a month ago, and checkpoints are functioning only in the Vorotan area. “They always claim it is theirs. They say all of Shurnukh and the interstate road belongs to them,” he said.

Since the war, nothing has changed in the divided Shurnukh; people wake up again to see the Azerbaijani flag in their territory, while the enemy does not resort to provocation here. “They are standing where they have been,” Arshakyan concluded.