Residents of Shurnukh Report Power Outages Amid Ongoing Security Concerns

Residents of Shurnukh village in the Goris community of Syunik Province are raising alarms about ongoing issues with electricity supply. Following the 2020 war, Shurnukh was split as a result of verbal agreements, with part coming under Azerbaijani control. Azerbaijani military forces have positioned themselves very close to the village, with daily patrolling occurring just meters from residents' homes. Despite the installation of security cameras and the presence of Russian border guards, security problems remain unresolved, leading residents to live side by side with the enemy, constantly aware of the danger.

The frequent power outages have heightened the sense of threat, as the loss of electricity means the cameras also stop functioning. "At night, my husband and I have to stand vigilant, listening for any sound; if we hear a noise, we go out to check, and the street lights go out, posing a serious security issue... The enemy is circling just beneath our windows; we sit in the dark, what should we do—leave the village?" shared Hasmik Harutyunyan, a resident of Shurnukh.

The cause of the power outages is attributed to the old electrical lines and poles, which are not well-maintained and often fall during strong winds, leading to disruptions.

The news outlet reached out to Edik Arzumanyan, the director of the Goris power grid, who affirmed that the issue remains under their scrutiny. "The power line has a substation located 3 kilometers away, running through forests and mountains. It doesn't disconnect frequently as they claim. Recently, extreme weather conditions have caused significant issues due to strong winds. Currently, there is power in the area. The line is lengthy and far away, and someone needs to come from here to restore it. It's not that we are neglecting it; on the contrary, we are attentive," explained the director.

He added that all electrical poles in Syunik are old, not just in Shurnukh. "The wind is so strong that even in Shinuhayr and other places, outages occur due to these winds. No matter how new or sturdy the poles are, the winds here are very strong, leading to disconnections. Additionally, the route is long; in the past, we used to connect from Vorotan, but now we are going through Tatev. There are difficulties; it's not that the facility is in Shurnukh and the power flows easily," said Arzumanyan.

Hakob Arshakyan, the head of the Shurnukh administrative district, noted that the Governor of Syunik, Robert Ghukasyan, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Gnel Sanosyan, and Goris Mayor Arush Arushanyan visited their village yesterday, addressing the issues around electricity supply. "The three-phase power that comes to our village from Bardzrav is running through the forest. We suggested that they install poles on an alternative route that passes through Shurnukh-Tandzaver, which intersects a wider road, covering a 4-kilometer section, so that our power line can connect through that new route. They said they would do it," mentioned Arshakyan.

While it has been understood that removing the line from the forest is advisable, such work cannot be done immediately—they will wait until spring. Arshakyan emphasized the importance of forest management responsibility, which is to ensure the branches on both sides of the power lines are trimmed to prevent heavy snowfall from causing branches to collapse onto the lines. "The first snow has arrived, bringing its issues. But the power grid team came out and worked late into the night in the snow to restore broken poles. Although the poles are old, they managed to restore power to the village until new poles are installed, while we await solutions from the minister and the governor on this issue," added Arshakyan.

When asked if installing a generator for a temporary solution until new poles are installed is possible, Arshakyan replied that Governor Robert Ghukasyan had mentioned sending a small generator, but it would not be sufficient for the entire village. "A large generator is needed. Only a large generator can supply enough electricity for the whole village, resolving the security issue as well. One of our friends, Narine Kirakosyan, suggested we try to solve the issue of the large generator through those willing to help," stated Hakob Arshakyan.