People Forced to Leave Verin Shorja and Nerkhin Shorja Villages, Hydro Power Plant No Longer Operational: Tatoyan

The Tatoyan Foundation for Law and Justice has presented the following fact-finding data.

As a result of the armed attack by the Azerbaijani armed forces on Armenia on September 13-14, 2022, civilian life in the villages of Nerkhin Shorja and Verin Shorja in the Gegharkunik region has ceased to exist. The pastures have completely come under the observation and control of Azerbaijan, and the villages have been emptied. Serious water access issues have arisen, with a lack of water in general.

These facts were recorded by the Tatoyan Foundation during fact-finding missions in the border communities of the region on November 25 and December 29, 2022. Specifically, in the areas around Verin Shorja’s pastures, Azerbaijani armed servicemen had invaded starting from May 12, 2021, illegally settling in lands belonging to residents of Armenia with valid documents. From there, they periodically opened fire towards the village, terrorized livestock farmers, committed livestock theft, burned pastures, and illegally seized water reservoirs and natural springs, depriving people of water.

Following the Armenian incursion on September 13-14, 2022, serious security issues also arose for the villages of Sotk, Ayrk, Jaghatsadzor, Kutakan, and Pkhram Masrik. Water basins and natural sources of water for Geghamabak, Jaghatsadzor, Ayrk, Verin Shorja, Nerkhin Shorja, and other villages have been under Azerbaijani control or observation since May 2021, and this situation worsened after the September 2022 war. There are serious problems with water access in the villages, or water is absent entirely.

Photos showing the positions recorded by the foundation during the fact-finding work.

Due to the sharp decline in the amount of water, the hydro power plant operating on the Verin Shorja-Ayrk road is no longer operational.

Similar specialized fact-finding work was also carried out in October 2022 in the Syunik region with the participation of international lawyers Garnik Kerkonian and Karo Ghazaryan. Currently, a report on these issues is being compiled in English with a special methodology.