Issues Arising from the Opening of a SOCAR Gas Station on the Goris-Kapan Road

The Azerbaijani SOCAR company has opened a gas station near the Azerbaijani customs checkpoint located in the Vorotan area of the Goris-Kapan interstate road in Syunik Province.

In an interview with ArmDaily.am, a resident of Vorotan mentioned that locals do not cautiously use that section; rather, it has been completely closed off to them by the Azerbaijanis. The only alternative route is still under construction.

“This road is open for Persians; perhaps they opened the gas station just for them. That section of the road is currently closed to us, and naturally, it’s unlikely that Armenians will buy that gas,” the resident stated.

To this day, they receive bread from the regional administration—130 loaves daily, which is sufficient for the village's daily consumption. The bread is delivered to the village using emergency service vehicles via an alternative route.

The site has been informed that as long as snow has not arrived, albeit there’s mud in some places, the road still allows access, but only with off-road vehicles.

Hakob Arshakyan, the head of the administrative district of Shurnukh, also stated in an interview with the site that bread is delivered daily to Shurnukh from the regional administration, and the alternative road is being renovated, which will remain the only option for residents. Hakobyan expressed confidence that the road would be operational during the winter, but most likely, only off-road vehicles will be able to travel on it.

Regarding the SOCAR gas station opened by the Azerbaijani company near the customs checkpoint on the Goris-Kapan interstate road, Arshakyan mentioned that it was opened within the so-called framework of “peaceful coexistence” and likely, when road access is open for Armenians, there may be Armenians willing to purchase cheaper gas from the Azerbaijani company.