Demarcation and Delimitation Activities Suspended in Kiran

The demarcation and delimitation activities in Kiran have been suspended at this moment. This was stated in an interview with NEWS.am by the head of the Kiran administrative district, Karo Shahinyan.

"The entire process of demarcation and delimitation in the area outside the village has been completed for now, eight pillars have been installed, while the three points that were supposed to be executed in the residential part of the village have been halted at this time. We have not been informed why the work has been stopped, and I cannot say what the reason for the suspension is. Perhaps they want to make a new decision regarding those three points; I don’t know, I can’t say, but at this moment, my and all the villagers' concern is that. We told Prime Minister Pashinyan in our meeting that this area has always been part of the Kiran administrative territory," he said.

He also mentioned that those conducting the surveying work have left, and most of the police officers have also departed, leaving residents in a state of anticipation.

It should be noted that on April 19, the commissions for the delimitation of the borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to begin the demarcation from the Tavush region. The description of the relevant sections of the border will be prepared, taking into account the clarification of coordinates from geodetic measurements in the area, which should be completed by May 15, 2024.

The Prime Minister's Office has stated that as a result of all this, Azerbaijan will acquire 2.5 villages, while the Republic of Armenia will achieve a reduction in security risks. A change will be made to several hundred meters of the road section in Kiran, while Voskepar will not face any road issues. After the delimitation, the armed forces in the sections of four villages will withdraw and yield their positions to border troops.

Residents of the border villages in Tavush have been protesting on the Armenia-Georgia interstate road since April 19. They are against the delimitation option agreed upon by Yerevan and Baku. Despite all this, nearly 40 border markers have already been installed on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

For two days, access to Kiran was blocked, allowing only village residents to enter and exit, and they had to show identity documents. Even Bishop Bagrat, the leader of the Tavush Diocese, MP Garnik Danielyan from the “Armenia” faction, and journalists were not allowed into Kiran. The police had concentrated a significant number of forces in that area.

The road to Kiran was opened on May 3.