Azerbaijani Forces Take Sheep Flock, Says Tegh Community Mayor

The Azerbaijani side continues to refuse to return the flock of sheep belonging to Surik Mathevosyan, a resident of the Tegh community in the Syunik province. Today, the mayor of Tegh, Davit Ghulunts, stated in an interview with hraparak.am that negotiations have yielded no results, and the hope of recovering the sheep is almost non-existent.

"There are even reports that the Azerbaijanis have brought a vehicle and completely removed the sheep from the area, losing all traces. They probably took them for mixing purposes," the mayor said, indicating that there is no option left but to submit a formal request to the regional administration to assist the 53-year-old shepherd.

Although the regional administration is unlikely to compensate for the actual extent of the damages, the mayor added, "Whatever assistance they might provide is still something. I’ve said we will wait until the end of the week and then prepare a formal request."

It is worth recalling that on January 13, Azerbaijani forces abducted shepherd Surik Mathevosyan from the Tegh community in Syunik province and returned him later that evening through the mediation of Russian peacekeepers. The Azerbaijanis took with them approximately 350 sheep, which have yet to be returned, claiming that the sheep were not with the shepherd.