I Do Not Exclude That Public Transport Routes May Be Suspended in Some Communities: Askeran Administrative Head

In Artsakh, the halt in gas supply has exacerbated the existing humanitarian crisis. This was stated today, January 17, in an interview with News.am by the administrative head of Askeran, Hamlet Apresyan.

“Currently, a process is underway to gather information on the types of issues that will arise in different communities due to the gas supply halt and which enterprises are on the brink of closure. There will also be a supply issue; for instance, essential goods are transported from Stepanakert via gas, and it is likely that the number of vehicles will have to be severely limited,” Apresyan noted.

According to him, there is a supply of gasoline, but it is intended for specific cases, not for daily use. In addition to supply vehicles, passenger transport also relies on gas.

“Public transport in the administrative region is served by gas-powered minibuses; these will be reduced, and I do not rule out that in some communities, transport routes may be suspended, meaning buses may not pass through certain communities. These decisions are not final yet; calculations need to be made,” emphasized Apresyan.

Hamlet Apresyan further stated that there are many schools in the administrative region that are heated using gas. “Heating in these schools may likely have to be done using stoves. We currently have no information on whether classes in these schools will be suspended or not.”

According to Apresyan, residents of gas-heated homes, after previous disconnections, have acquired alternative means, which mainly rely on electricity.