Residents Unyielding: Details from the Yerevan-Aparan Highway

Early this morning, residents of Vardenut village in the Aragatsotn region blocked the Yerevan-Aparan highway. The residents are protesting a government decision recognizing 110 hectares of land from their village as public interest, for which they are being offered only 300 drams per square meter.

They recalled Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's previous statement that they could block roads to resolve issues, and today they closed the road to compel him to address their concerns.

In an interview with 168.am, Vardenut village administrative head Kamo Sahakyan stated that the people are defending their rights, opposing the government's decision and the amount of compensation being offered. “The government has recognized 110 hectares of people's private land as public interest, offering compensation of 300 or 340 drams per square meter. The residents are saying they do not want to sell their land for that amount. Some residents insist they are the rightful owners of the land, raising livestock and living off it; they do not want to part with it. Others feel that the compensation is inadequate,” he noted.

According to Sahakyan, the land is being taken to build a ski resort, cable cars, a reservoir, and an eco-village. They claim that this development will create 1,100 jobs, but the residents remain skeptical.

He concluded by stating that the residents are unyielding and have declared they will protest until a specific resolution is reached. “Apart from the land in question, the villagers own other land—around 500 hectares—however, this land is particularly valuable because it is irrigable, making its cultivation easier. The government has recognized the best lands as public interest,” Sahakyan elaborated.

It is notable that the residents of Vardenut had previously blocked the Yerevan-Vanadzor highway in March, demanding the annulment of the decision, as they actively cultivate that land. They also sent letters to the Minister of Economy and Prime Minister Pashinyan, but received no response from either.

Auroranews contacted the Ministry of Interior, which confirmed that the Yerevan-Aparan highway has been open to traffic since 10:30 AM.