I Visited Syunik with My Team on a Special Work Visit: Human Rights Defender

The concerns and anger of the residents of Kapan, Goris, and other cities and border villages in Armenia's Syunik Province regarding the border delineation and demarcation processes are indeed based on real foundations. This was stated by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, on his Facebook page.

“We are talking specifically about the lives of these residents and their rights to essential services, their physical safety and security, and their ability to secure their livelihoods, as well as the safety of the borders of the Republic of Armenia. I personally visited Syunik with my team on a special work visit and witnessed the acute relevance of these issues. Moreover, yesterday and today early in the morning, the staff of the Human Rights Defender has been receiving reports and concerns from the residents of border communities in Syunik regarding the same issues, and we are monitoring the citizens' protest actions continuously,” wrote Tatoyan.

The Government of the Republic of Armenia, I specifically emphasize—not the local or community bodies of Syunik but our state's highest executive authority—has an obligation to provide proper explanations to the public and especially to the residents of border communities regarding questions and developments that are relevant to them and, in general, to our entire society. This is the constitutional right of the citizens. The state has a direct obligation to ensure this and that is final,” Tatoyan added.