Tatoyan Provides Information on Alternative Road Being Built in Syunik

It turns out that the new main road being constructed by the government in Syunik, which will serve as an alternative to the Kapan-Jakaten main road, is once again under the direct observation of Azerbaijani armed personnel in various sections.

This was reported by former Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan.

"Security is not ensured even at the minimum level. Note that this is not the alternative temporary road that I raised concerns about months ago. This new road under construction will replace the temporary alternative road from Kapan to Jakaten and five other villages, which began operation in November 2020 after Azerbaijani armed personnel blocked the main road, and is currently still operational, passing through the village of Geghanush in Kapan. The newly constructed main road will not pass through Geghanush but will instead be in immediate proximity to the illegally blocked main road by Azerbaijani armed personnel, directly below that road," Tatoyan stated.

He emphasized that his findings were derived from fact-finding work he conducted in the Kapan community of Syunik around ten days ago, regarding the situation created after the illegal blockade of the Kapan-Jakaten road by Azerbaijani armed personnel.

The Armenian government must report to the public why it is constructing an alternative road to the Kapan-Jakaten main road through sections under the direct observation of Azerbaijani armed personnel without ensuring the road's safety. What justification is there for such an unacceptable situation regarding the lives and safety of people?

Moreover, Kapan community bodies have proposed constructing the Kapan-Jakaten road entirely elsewhere, away from Azerbaijani direct observation, yet it appears the government has ignored all these proposals, preferring to construct the road in places where people's safety will not be ensured.

Personally, I have seen the road proposed by the Kapan City Hall and traveled that route accompanied by the vice-mayors of Kapan. It could have been fully constructed while bypassing Azerbaijani armed observation, ensuring at least minimum safety.

Additionally, the government was provided with at least two road alternatives, none of which it accepted. What is the point of wasting so many resources and causing suffering to people when safety is not resolved at all?

In any case, Azerbaijani armed personnel have completely disrupted safety in Syunik. Accompanying this publication are images showing the main road leading from Kapan to Jakaten, illegal Azerbaijani deployments, and the so-called alternative road.

It's important to note that in these areas, the border guard troops of the National Security Service of Armenia provide heroic service, but I did not include them in the published photographs.

Overall, Azerbaijani armed personnel, along with their signs and flags, emerged near Armenian villages and roads in Gegharkunik and Syunik immediately after the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020 under the continuing threats of new warfare and ongoing policies of anti-Armenian hatred. Since then, they have daily violated the rights of Armenian residents, causing them hardships.

The security of the villages of Jakaten, Shikahogh, Srashen, Nerkin Hand, Tsav, Shishkert, and Kapan has been compromised following the appearance of Azerbaijani armed personnel, their flags, and signs along the Kapan-Jakaten road, disrupting the normal life of people.

Following the illegal imposition of border and customs controls on this road and its blockade, severe isolation and humanitarian issues have arisen for the mentioned communities, maintaining Armenian civilians under observation.

It is evident that the main issue is the removal of Azerbaijani armed personnel to ensure the security of the people. Regardless, safety issues cannot be overlooked.

The new findings from fact-finding work will be consolidated and utilized across various platforms to protect the rights of our citizens.

I am publishing photographs showing: 1) the illegally blocked Kapan-Jakaten main road by Azerbaijani armed personnel and the new road under construction by the government, posing risks for the Kapan community; 2) the sections of the road under observation by Azerbaijani armed personnel; 3) the alternative road proposed by the Kapan community, rejected by the government, which does not fall under direct Azerbaijani observation (examples of the accessibility of the road segment).

Images are published that do not show the entire area complete.