Armenia finishes alternative to road passing through Azeri-held areas

PanARMENIAN.Net - The alternative road to replace the one passing through pockets of Azerbaijan-controlled territories in Armenia's Syunik province is "practically completely ready", Minister Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan told a press conference on Wednesday, November 10, Armenpress reports.

Sanosyan said roads are under construction in a number of communities of Syunik province, revealing that the one connecting the towns of Sisian and Kajaran is a priority.

Deputy Prime Minister Suren Papikyan said in late October that the alternative roads in Syunik will be ready in spring 2022.

The main road connecting the cities of Goris and Kapan in the region in some cases runs across territory which Baku gained control of as a result of the 44-day war in fall 2020. Azerbaijan has already set up border guard posts and police checkpoints, has at least once blocked a 21-kilometer section of it for nearly 48 hours and is now collecting taxes from Iranian trucks delivering goods to Armenia.