Armenian Citizens Block Roads in Protest of Village Transfer to Azerbaijan

Armenian citizens have blocked the Gyumri-Armavir road in support of residents of the Tavush region who are protesting the transfer of four Azerbaijani villages to Baku, as agreed in a recent border delimitation deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The protesters used tractors to block the Armenia-Iran motorway about 130 kilometers from Yerevan, in the city of Ekegandar.

The villages in question - Baghanis-Baganis Ayrum, Voskepar-Asagi Askipara, Kirants-Xeyrimli, and Berkaber-Qizilhacili - were part of Azerbaijan during the Soviet era but have been controlled by Armenia since the 1990s. The residents of the Tavush region have launched protests against the government's plans to hand over the territory close to Azerbaijan's Gazax region.

Why this matters: The protests highlight the ongoing tensions and sensitivities surrounding the border demarcation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan following their 2020 war. The transfer of villages has raised concerns among local residents about access to farmlands and potential security risks.

The agreement to transfer the villages was reached during the eighth round of talks between Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Shahin Mustafayev. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has pledged efforts to address the difficulties that local residents might face due to the planned border demarcation, including building new sections of the road along the border.

The protests in Yerevan have continued for 11 days, with people posting sarcastic messages in various parts of the capital, stating that this is not just an issue for Tavush, but for all Armenians and Armenia. The police arrived at the site of the Gyumri-Armavir road blockade and demanded that the highway be reopened.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken to the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, reaffirming Washington's support for a peace treaty between the South Caucasus neighbors. Blinken urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to keep up the momentum with his Armenian counterpart, and reaffirmed U.S. support for progress on a durable and dignified peace agreement with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The border delimitation agreement has been welcomed by the United States and European Union as a step towards a comprehensive peace deal. However, it has faced criticism from opposition politicians in Armenia. Residents of the border villages have expressed concerns that the demarcation of the border according to the Soviet-era configuration would deprive them of access to their farmlands and complicate their communication with the rest of the country.

Key Takeaways

• Armenian citizens block Gyumri-Armavir road over plan to transfer 4 villages to Azerbaijan.
• Residents of Tavush region protest government's plan to hand over territory to Azerbaijan.
• Border demarcation deal raises concerns about access to farmlands and security risks.
• US Secretary of State urges progress on peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
• Opposition in Armenia criticizes border delimitation agreement, residents express concerns.