Tuesday, June 6 2023 20:23

ArmInfo.The Sotk Gold Mine has ceased operations in the open section of the mine due to safety  concerns but continues to work in the closed part, Governor of Gegharkunik region Karen Sargsyan said on May 6 in an interview with journalists.

<In general, the intensity of shooting in the border areas of the  region has decreased. As for the Sotk mine, work in the open part of  the mine has been stopped for safety reasons, but work in the closed  mine continues. That is, the Sotk mine is partially working>, the  governor said.

Regarding the issue of whether the local residents left their  settlements as a result of the Azerbaijani aggression, Karen Sargsyan  said that local authorities did not conduct monitoring. but it is  unlikely that they could leave their homes because of these problems.  After the September aggression of 2022, we have families who left  their settlements, there are families who did not return, but most of  them have returned and are living in their settlements," the governor  emphasized. <We have 4 houses, completely undestroyed, but not  habitable. They are currently in the process of developing design  estimates. In the near future we will have a clear picture and  understand how much money we need to restore houses," Sargsyan said.

He added that during 2021-2022, assistance was also provided to  residents who lost their livestock in the territories controlled by  Azerbaijanis, and these losses have also been practically restored.  The governor said that a program will be implemented in the border  villages of the Gegharkunik region, which will allow residents to  carry out self-defense if necessary. This means that local residents  will be able to get weapons.