Members of the “Together” movement visited the village of Tigranashen in Ararat Province on March 20. The village is considered an enclave by Azerbaijan and there are demands for its return. Tigran Eghoyan, one of the members, spoke with reporters and voiced their opposition to the unjustifiable demands of Azerbaijan. They also reject violence in territorial disputes, as it often leads to military conflicts. The military roads are closed and there are Armenian posts with soldiers stationed there. Behind the barbed wire fences are old Orthodox cemeteries.

The focus of the visit is to protect the Armenian population of Tigranashen. The village is unique as it has no residents or local government. The responsible parties and the measures taken, such as providing housing to villagers who don’t have agricultural land, have not been addressed. No one has attempted to cultivate or maintain this land.

Eghoyan, who is a resident of Yeraskh, emphasized his willingness to bring his peasant tractor to Tigranashen, as it can work throughout the winter without any issues. However, government officials have not given permission for this. Eghoyan expressed concern about the Azerbaijani flag that is often seen flying on the road. If Tigranashen is handed over, he fears that the road through Yelbaf and Chiva will become a barrier for Armenian drivers.

Furthermore, Eghoyan stated that their government’s assistance is not necessary and they will allow people to live and work in the village. Cultivating fertile land is crucial for sustainable agriculture, and leaving it uncultivated is impractical. Eghoyan questioned the idea of Tigranashen being labeled as an enclave, as he believes it doesn’t truly fit the definition.