- Residents of Kuth village report regular nighttime gunfire for the past 15 days.
- Khnatsakh village has been hearing nightly gunfire since March 31st.
- No casualties or property damage reported in either village.
- Armenian Defense Ministry says irregular, non-targeted fire is sometimes recorded.
- Ministry states official reports are issued for significant ceasefire violations.
Armenian Border Villages Kuth and Khnatsakh Report Nighttime Gunfire
Yerevan, Armenia – Residents of the Armenian border villages of Kuth in Gegharkunik province and Khnatsakh in Syunik province have reported experiencing regular nighttime gunfire near the border with Azerbaijan. These accounts from local administrative heads have surfaced as the Armenian Ministry of Defense addressed the security situation in the area.
Kuth Village Residents Report Nightly Gunfire for 15 Days
Grigory Avagyan, the administrative head of Kuth village, stated to NEWS.am that nighttime gunfire has been a recurring issue for the past 15 days. “Frankly speaking, there had been no gunfire for the last year and a half, but it has intensified for 15 days now,” Avagyan said. He added that the gunfire occurs only at night, and while he personally heard it twice, villagers have reported it more frequently. Importantly, he noted that no people, animals, or property in the village have been harmed or damaged.
Khnatsakh Village Reports Nightly Gunfire Since March 31st
Similarly, Seyran Mirzoyan, the administrative head of Khnatsakh village, reported that gunfire has been heard every night since March 31st. “Gunshots are heard 3-4 times during the night, but they are not targeted,” Mirzoyan explained. He also confirmed that the village has not sustained any damage due to the gunfire and that while residents are concerned, they are not exhibiting signs of panic or extreme tension.
Armenian Defense Ministry Addresses Border Situation
The Armenian Ministry of Defense responded to these reports by informing NEWS.am that “the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia has stated that irregular, non-targeted gunfire is sometimes recorded along the border. We have also repeatedly announced that in case of intensive, significant, or, in other words, targeted ceasefire violations, we issue official reports.”
Ministry’s Stance on Ceasefire Violations
The Ministry further clarified their information policy, stating that targeted incidents, such as the shooting at a residential house in Khnatsakh on March 31st, are promptly reported. They emphasized that their approach to disseminating information is based on a thorough analysis of various circumstances.
Concerns Amid Ongoing Border Tensions
These concurrent reports from the administrative heads of Kuth and Khnatsakh, coupled with the Armenian Defense Ministry’s statement, underscore the persistent security challenges in the border regions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The regularity of nighttime gunfire is likely to be a source of anxiety for the residents of these villages, even in the absence of reported casualties or significant damage.