Pillars installed in Armenian border village of KirantsMay 20, 2024 - 17:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them, RFE/RL’s Armenian service reports. According to residents of the village of Kirants, three pillars installed overnight can either be border markers or signposts. Police again blocked on Sunday the roads leading to the village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province that will be affected hardest by the Armenian government’s decision to cede several local border areas to Azerbaijan. The village of Kirants was cordoned off as a group of opposition parliamentarians were about to visit it to again show support for local residents. A police roadblock prevented them from reaching the community that has been the epicenter of protests in Tavush sparked by the planned handover. Journalists were also banned from entering Kirants. The lawmakers representing the main opposition Hayastan alliance argued bitterly with the chief of the provincial police department as well as officers of a special police unit sent from Yerevan. The policemen at the scene refused to give clear reasons for the ban condemned by the lawmakers as illegal. Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) said later in the afternoon that non-locals’ access to the restive village has been “temporarily restricted” out of “security and operational necessity.” It said Armenian border guards subordinate to the NSS are starting their deployment in and around Kirants. Top stories Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Partner news | EU encourages Armenia to prioritize strategic projects The EU has encouraged Armenia to prioritize strategic projects, according to a statement from the country’s Foreign Ministry. Some 100 detained as protesters, police clash in Yerevan Riot police fired stun grenades outside the Armenian parliament as they clashed with protesters. Exclusive access to all EURO 2024 games for Ucom subscribers This year once again Ucom stands as the primary partner of UEFA EURO 2024 in Armenia. Pashinyan congratulates Putin on Russia Day Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory messages to Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Mishustin on the occasion of Russia Day. |