Tavush Residents Give Pashinyan 10 Days to Withdraw Village Surrender Plan to Azerbaijan, Warn of War Readiness Otherwise

Opposition Member of Parliament Garnik Danielyan took to Facebook to report Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's purported intentions during a surprise visit to Tavush Province in Armenia.

According to Danielyan's account, Pashinyan convened a closed-door meeting in the Voskepar community, attended by local officials but notably absent of media presence. Phones and other belongings were reportedly collected from attendees, setting a tense atmosphere for discussions.

In the meeting, Pashinyan allegedly announced plans to hand over four villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan immediately, citing concerns of imminent conflict otherwise. Residents voiced apprehensions about the fate of critical infrastructure, such as interstate roads, and sought assurances of safety and peace in exchange for the territorial concessions.

Pashinyan's responses, as recounted by Danielyan, left villagers unsettled. The Prime Minister reportedly admitted an inability to guarantee peace and acknowledged Turkey's support for Azerbaijan, leaving residents feeling vulnerable and uncertain about their future.

Amidst growing unease, Pashinyan's proposals for alternative routes failed to appease residents, who adamantly refused relocation and expressed readiness to defend their homes at all costs. 

In an interview with The Armenian Report, the mayor's adviser, Voskepar resident Mihran Makhsudyan, said that residents have set a condition, they have given a deadline of 10 days for the government to withdraw from their intentions. Otherwise,  the residents say they are ready to fight. “You will understand the severity of the situation when you see the road closed for public safety,” Makhsudyan explains to The Armenian Report.

Pashinyan suggested constructing an alternative road, but the people refused. 

“Voskepar has been a fortress, and it will remain so unless the government gives away Voskepar, then the enemy will approach Lori province. The village of Vanadzor is 30 km away from Voskepar. The people are united,” continued Makhsudyan.

Makhsudyan emphasized the village's historical resilience and residents' determination to resist any encroachment on their territory.

“People in the 1990s also fought [in Voskepar]; let no one provoke the people of Voskepar with war. Our concern is the security of our village; we have no other concerns,” concluded the advisor to the mayor of Voskepar. 

The gravity of the situation shows the deep-rooted concerns surrounding Armenia’s territorial integrity and national security, raising questions about Armenian government's strategies and its impact on local communities.

In the face of uncertainty, Tavush residents stand united in their resolve to defend their villages, sending a clear message that their unwavering commitment to their homeland transcends political discourse and external pressures.