Bullets Rain on Homes in Syunik Village as Azerbaijani Troops Continue Nightly Gunfire
For seven nights in a row, residents of two border villages in Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province have reported gunfire from Azerbaijani troops stationed nearby. The repeated gunfire has left locals on edge, raising concerns about the fragile security situation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
The Armenian Report’s Ani Khachatryan has been on the ground in Syunik for the past two days, providing live updates on the unfolding situation. According to her reports, the Azerbaijani military has been firing into the air between 10 p.m. and the early hours of the morning, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty for villagers in Khoznavar and Khnatsakh.
The gunfire incidents began just one week after Armenia and Azerbaijan announced that they had reached an agreement on the text of a bilateral peace treaty. Despite this diplomatic progress, tensions remain high, with Azerbaijani officials accusing Armenian forces of ceasefire violations along different sections of the border. The Armenian government has firmly denied these allegations.
Villagers in Khoznavar told The Armenian Report that as a result of the gunfire on the previous night, several bullets landed on the roofs of two homes. However, only one bullet was found. Locals believe that Azerbaijan’s objective is to instill fear and force them to abandon their homes, but they remain steadfast.
“The enemy wants to scare us, but we are not afraid,” said one resident, emphasizing the community’s determination to stay in their village despite the security threats.
Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan addressed the situation in parliament on Wednesday, downplaying the seriousness of the gunfire. He stated that while there have been instances of shooting along the border, they were not aimed directly at Armenian territory.
“The way to solve the problem is diplomatic,” Papikyan added, without providing further details on potential diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.
However, not all Armenian officials share his view. Opposition leader Seyran Ohanyan, a former defense minister and head of the Hayastan alliance’s parliamentary group, criticized the government’s passive response. He argued that Azerbaijan is using these tactics as a form of psychological pressure on Armenia’s population to extract further political and territorial concessions.
The ongoing border incidents come at a critical time, as Armenia continues to push for the swift signing of the finalized peace treaty with Azerbaijan. However, Azerbaijani officials insist that Yerevan must first meet certain conditions, including amending Armenia’s constitution.
The situation along the border remains tense, and with no immediate resolution in sight, residents of Syunik continue to endure the psychological strain of nightly gunfire. While diplomatic negotiations may be the government’s preferred approach, many in Armenia are calling for a stronger stance against Azerbaijan’s aggressive actions.
