“The Water Basin is Under Enemy Control”: Leader of Verin Shorja

The life in the communities of Verin and Nerk'in Shorja in the Gegharkunik region continues, and residents have not abandoned their villages, said Gegharkunik Deputy Governor Vahan Zaroyan in an interview with Sputnik Armenia.

“Both villages have areas that are monitored by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, but it is not the case that everything is under their control; we also have our positions. There are permanent residents in both villages, including at this moment, but those areas are mainly pastures, and people mostly go there and stay during the summer. This means that the number of residents increases in the summer. Life has not stopped now,” said Zaroyan.

The deputy governor noted that there is a water-related problem in the aforementioned villages, as some sections of the water basin are monitored by the adversary, but it is not true that there is no water at all in the villages. Regarding the hydroelectric power station (HEPS), Zaroyan assured that its contractual period has expired, and the company has decided not to continue its activities. He mentioned that they had informed about not renewing the contract before the Azerbaijani aggression.

Artyom Yeranosyan, the leader of Verin Shorja, also stated that while families with small children have left the village, life continues. “We have a permanent population and a farm that requires daily work. How can they leave their homes? As for the water issue, yes, there is such a concern. The water basin is under enemy control. A week ago, the water froze, and we took risks by bringing in tires, lit fires, which warmed the pipe and opened it. At this moment, we have water,” said Yeranosyan.

It should be noted that the “Tatoyan” Foundation reported today that following the armed attack by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on September 13-14, 2022, civilian life has ceased in Nerk'in Shorja and Verin Shorja, the pastures have completely come under Azerbaijani observation control, and the villages have been evacuated. There have been serious problems with water access, or there is no water at all. Due to the sharp decrease in water quantity, the HEPS located on the Verin Shorja-Ayrk road is no longer operational.