18 August 2022, 17:39
Berdzor population reduces to 70 before resettlement from Lachin corridor
About 70 people still stay in Berdzor, but people are preparing for involuntary resettlement from the Lachin corridor, the Mayor of Berdzor reports. The official emphasizes that the authorities do not guarantee the safety of those who stay.
The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the administration of the Kashatag District of Nagorno-Karabakh reported that residents of Berdzor (the Azerbaijani name is Lachin, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”) and the village of Akhavno (the Azerbaijani name is Zabukh, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”) must leave their houses by August 20.
According to the agreement signed by Aliev, Pashinyan and Putin, Armenia transferred the territory of the Lachin District to Azerbaijan. In June 2022, the Azerbaijan State Highway Agency reported that the construction of the 32-kilometre-long Azerbaijani section of the road continues at an accelerated pace and is scheduled to be completed this year. The transfer of Lachin (the Armenian name is Berdzor) under Azerbaijan's control was delayed due to the absence of an alternative road from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. After the launch of this road, Lachin will be transferred to Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani experts explained in July.
There are no families in Berdzor who refuse to leave their houses, the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent has learned from Berdzor Mayor Narek Aleksanyan.
“I can’t imagine what security guarantees can be provided if someone nevertheless decides to stay. The authorities will not be able to provide any assistance if a person decides to stay. I personally can’t imagine how Armenians and Azerbaijanis could live next to each other in the same community,” Narek Aleksanyan noted.
At present, according to the Mayor of Berdzor, about 70 people still stay in the community. “Some of the families have already resettled, while others have returned to take their belongings. Everyone chooses whether to move to Armenia or stay in Artsakh (the self-name of Nagorno-Karabakh, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”). If they stay in Artsakh, they will be accommodated in a hotel for the first time. In Armenia, the people will be accommodated in rented housing,” Narek Aleksanyan reported.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 18, 2022 at 11:22 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Tigran Petrosyan Source: CK correspondent
