Are Measurements Being Made at the Armenia-Georgia Border? - 'Hraparak'

'Hraparak' newspaper reports: 'We received an alert from the village of Jiliza in the Lori Province. Residents who contacted us stated that border demarcation work was carried out in Jiliza yesterday. They noticed individuals in military uniforms accompanied by staff from the Alaverdi city hall. They were unaware of who they were or what work was being done.

We tried to clarify what work is being done at the Armenia-Georgia border, but the head of the Jiliza administrative district, Mher Vardanyan, said he had not seen such a group. 'This section of the border is controlled by the National Security Service. There’s nothing visible from this side; perhaps they came from the Georgian side; they might have had an agreement. I don't know. I haven't noticed such an incident from our side,' said the head of Jiliza.

The newly elected mayor of Alaverdi also did not confirm the information. When asked if there were city hall workers in Jiliza yesterday along with people in military uniforms, presumably border guards, he first stated that he was not aware of it, then retracted to say he had checked and found that such an event did not happen. We discovered that the newly elected mayor of Alaverdi, Arkadi Tamazyan, was speaking with us while being in Georgia, participating in some border-related meetings.

- Why have you gone to Georgia? Is it true that you are currently in the border village of Aghkiorpi?

- No, I'm in Georgia for another matter; it has nothing to do with that.

- Is it a secret? Could it be for personal matters?

- No, I just don't remember the name. I'm there on official business regarding cross-border cooperation.

- What does that mean, is it a seminar?

- Yes, something like that.

- Is it possible that you are there specifically for border demarcation to get acquainted with the situation?

- No, we are in Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki; what does that have to do with it?

We also called the NSS to find out what activities are taking place and whether they fall within the framework of demarcation of the Armenian-Georgian state border, a process that began years ago and has not concluded. 'No actions are being carried out from our side. Other work might be taking place. In any case, regarding the NSS, our border guard troops are not involved,' the NSS press center responded.

It's worth mentioning that negotiations regarding the delimitation of our state border with Georgia have been ongoing since the 90s. Since 1996, border delimitation and demarcation commissions have been operating between the two countries. However, the process has dragged on. Out of the 225 km of border line, 78 km has not yet been agreed upon or clarified. The new Armenian government plans to address border delimitation and demarcation issues with both Azerbaijan and Georgia by 2026. The unsettled part—these 65 km—lies between the Armenian Jiliza and the Georgian Chanakhchi villages. There are also unresolved territories near Bavra, Sadakhlo, Khozhorni, the Somkheti mountain range, near Irgancha village, as well as in the Aghkiorpi-Chanakhchi-Brdadzor section. It remains a mystery why the details of the demarcation process are kept confidential. Presumably, they do not want people to say, ‘We are giving land to the Turk; enough, we are also handing over to the Georgian.’ This logic, of course, will operate regardless of everything. In reality, questions have long matured here. For example, part of the Khozhorni village in the Marneuli region is on Armenian soil, while the other part is in Georgian territory. Some of the gardens of residents from the Georgian villages of Aghkiorpi, Chanakhchi, and Brdadzor are also on the Armenian border. Aghkiorpi is inhabited by Armenians but is located within the Georgian boundary. Here lies the Khujapi Monastery, the coordinates of which are also not clear. What is particularly dangerous is that it is possible our weakened state may be exploited not only by the hostile Azerbaijan but also by the friendly Georgia for border delineation in its favor.'