Azerbaijani Forces Begin Setting Fire to Pastures, Says Ayryk Leader

Azerbaijani soldiers have resumed the practice of setting fires near the villages of Verin and Nerkin Shorja in Gegharkunik Province, Armenia, since yesterday. Arthur Shaboyan, the administrative head of Ayryk community, reported in an interview with "Factinfo" that these fires primarily target the pastures and grasslands used by local residents, which are being destroyed by the blazes. The burning areas are approximately 4-5 kilometers away from Ayryk.

"The pastures are mostly under their control. When they set fires, some reports indicate that the grasslands burn alongside them," noted Shaboyan, adding, "Some of the pastures we use have been burned." According to the administrative leader, the spread of the fire and its duration are also affected by weather conditions. "It happens that they set fires, then in the evening, since it is humid now, it calms down. Sometimes it continues, and then for two days, there is no fire at all, then again, they start one—it’s a situation like that. If I say they set the whole place on fire, that’s not the case. It’s like during the day, it burns, and in the evening, it calms down," he explained.

The fire is also spreading in higher altitude areas of the administrative territory, where vehicles cannot even reach, making it challenging for residents to extinguish the flames on foot. "There are high places where you can barely get up on foot; it’s not like any machinery can go there," he said.

It is noteworthy that about a month ago, Azerbaijani soldiers burned pastures near villages in Gegharkunik (including Kut, Verin Shorja, Sotk, Norabak, and others) in the same manner. The fires spread in high-altitude areas where locals had to extinguish the flames manually alongside firefighters, while Azerbaijani soldiers simultaneously caused new outbreaks of fire.