Emergency Situation in Ararat Region: Residents of Ghukasavan Village Prepare to Take Urgent Action

On July 3, a tense situation arose in the Ararat region. Around noon, residents of Ghukasavan village gathered in protest near the well-known area referred to as "Zhangvi River" from Soviet times, demanding an end to what they describe as the "desertification of the village."

In an interview with photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan, the villagers expressed their concerns: "For months, certain individuals have initiated a real massacre against not only nature but also the village. Special machinery has been working on our land every day of the week until midnight. To fill their pockets, they have cursed the river and many houses are now on the brink of danger. They have extracted so much sand and gravel from the river for asphalt that the river has already dried up. The dust accumulates so much that our homes are covered in dust even from a kilometer away. Women hang their laundry, but it looks as if they have never washed it; everything is covered in dust. We haven't even mentioned that they have cursed the essence of ecology. We have appealed to the regional administration, the village council, and several relevant bodies, but they have merely come to look and consider their responsibility fulfilled. There is no compassionate approach towards the village. In Soviet times, Ghukasavan village was famous for its quality agricultural products. Now, the irrigation of gardens and fields is done with sewage, and we see water only once a month. Who has seen such brutal treatment of nature and, not to mention, of farmers in the 21st century? The situation has reached a point where those engaged in labor have completely destroyed the state road that has been operational since Soviet times. Now we are left with a dirty and dusty road to navigate. There is no mention of the road to the cemetery; it has been completely turned into a dead end. We demand that government officials show at least some goodwill and come to see for themselves how people are turning an entire village into a desert for the sake of enriching their wallets. We are not currently taking extreme measures, such as blocking roads or holding protests in front of the government, but this serves as a warning: respected officials, take note and put an end to the greed of a few individuals. After selling a few tons of resources, do not leave the village empty. Come and see with your own eyes how houses have become emergency situations. During class hours, if you come to school, you will hear how children are enduring their lessons under the noise of heavy machinery. Just be a little humane; we do not want much. Let this village remain and not be deserted."

The photojournalist reported that a representative of the operating company was also present, who stated that he had started these works a few days ago and that he was not doing anything dangerous for the village, but rather cleaning up waste. However, the villagers insisted that the most appropriate solution was to remove heavy machinery from the village. Officers from the Masis Police Department's community policing division and the second company of the patrol police's first battalion also arrived, thinking that the villagers would continue their protest by blocking the road.