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The residents of Voskepar, a border community in Armenia’s Tavush Province, have voiced their objections to the handover of its adjacent border areas to Azerbaijan in a letter to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The letter published on Tuesday was signed by virtually all members of the community and was handed over to Pashinyan during his meeting with local residents.

“It is not us who should explain to the Armenian government the strategic importance even of the smallest border concession in this territory, which would undermine state security. Still, we have to emphasize that as a result of the territorial concessions in this border area, not only the bordering regions of Berkaber, Sarigyugh, Tsakhkavan, Kirants, Voskepar, Baghanis, Voskevan, Koti, Barekamavan will be affected, but also Armenia will lose control over the Ijevan-Noyemberyan interstate highway, these settlements will eventually be abandoned and a free road through the mountains to Alaverdi and Vanadzor will be opened for the enemy,” the residents warned.

"We express our disagreement with the fulfillment of Azerbaijan's territorial demands and territorial concessions in this border area. We are ready to defend our right to life and free movement at any cost, to stand with our army and join it to defend our homeland," reads the letter.