On the evening of April 20, news spread throughout the media that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Syunik Province and the Shurnukh village. The Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, shared photos from Shurnukh, writing, “We visited several homes in Shurnukh, and we explored the village. They did not expect us.” Aravot Daily asked the head of the Shurnukh village, Hakob Arshakyan, for details about the visit.
Hakob Arshakyan
– Arshakyan, please tell us why the Prime Minister came to the village.
How did he come, or why did he come… (laughs)
– Both…
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I don’t know, dear.
-They didn’t make arrangements with you?
Nothing. Ask him about that. He will know why he came. I don’t.
-Did he meet with anyone in the village?
No, no. When I found out that he is in the village, he went to someone’s house on foot and left. He got in his car and left the village.
-Why did he go to the villager’s home?
He took a bag.
What was the bag? Did he go to give them a bag?
I don’t know (laughs).
-Do you know in general why he came to Syunik and visited your village?
He didn’t say anything, I don’t know… The president and the Human Rights Defender, Tatoyan, visited as well. They told me two days ago that they would come and we would meet. They were welcome here, and we bid them farewell. They listened to the people.
-What problems did the villagers mention?
Mostly problems connected to security.
-Arshakyan, are there any concerns connected to Shurnukh? Such rumors have been spreading since yesterday.
We don’t know. I am unable to give people that answer, too.
-Is it true that the villagers were angered by the Prime Minister’s visit and wished to kick him out of the village?
They’re saying that this happened, but I didn’t see it personally.
Luiza Sukiasyan
Photos of Nikol Pashinyan’s visit from Alen Simonyan’s Facebook page
