Kiran Citizen Refuses 270 Million Dram Compensation, Faces Threat of Imprisonment: Voskanyan Sargsyan

A resident of Kiran has refused a compensation of 270 million drams, facing threats of imprisonment in the process. This was reported on the Facebook page of journalist Voskanyan Sargsyan.

“I learned from Kiran that 11 families in the village, whose relatives died while defending the homeland, have refused compensation from the state budget for their land and property that was unilaterally and illegally handed over to Azerbaijan under the pretense of delimitation. Significant sums from the state budget have been given to those who agreed to the deal. According to the villagers, for a wagon house that served as a shop, 18 million drams were paid, and for a small car repair shop, 28 million drams. These were the smallest amounts paid to Kiran residents, while larger sums were offered for houses and lands.

One Kiran resident, whose name I will not disclose to avoid creating problems for him, was offered 270 million drams but refused it. The villagers stated that later, this man was called to Yerevan, to the investigative committee, where the persistent man was told that he and his son had resisted the police, and that a criminal case could be initiated against them. However, the Kiran resident who turned down the 270 million drams was not afraid of criminal prosecution and did not go through with the deal.

Following the handover of Kiran’s territories to Azerbaijan, the mood in the once-heroic Kiran has changed. Every year on August 1, the Kiran festival is celebrated with great pomp. This year, however, the village's celebration passed without distinction.

I inquired with the Tavush regional governor, Hayk Ghalumyan, about how much compensation is budgeted for Kiran residents in return for the territories handed over to Azerbaijan, how much has already been disbursed, and on what basis the compensation amounts have been determined. The regional administration responded: “The requested information is not subject to disclosure as it is marked with a confidentiality seal.”