Video: "Where will the border be so I know whether to leave or stay in the village?" Kirants residents to Sanosyan

The Minister of Territorial Administration of Armenia, Gnel Sanosyan, visited the village of Kirants in the Tavush region. He was examining the future border section with the village mayor and residents. One of the villagers expressed that it remains unclear where the border guards will be stationed. “Until we know where the border guards will stand, we won’t open the road; they could be stationed 300 meters away, or they could come 100 meters closer. Until the final point is determined, we will not retreat,” the resident stated.

Another villager voiced dissatisfaction, saying decisions had already been made and signed before consultations with them took place. Sanosyan noted that it isn’t necessary for him to visit in person to understand the issues. “The administrative leader raises the issues every day,” he remarked.

A female villager challenged the minister, saying that decisions about the border were made based on some computer program without visiting the village. Sanosyan replied that a process of border demarcation had taken place, which will lead to other processes subsequently.

When asked how they could sign a document without understanding whether their homes would be affected, Sanosyan stated that they know where the border runs and how far away the road is. “We will also inform people about the preliminary version, clarifying what isn’t clear to you,” he added.

Another woman from Kirants, in tears, said, “The Turks are brought here, and there are no guarantees of safety; they’ve sold us off to escape.” Sanosyan left without addressing the residents’ complaints.