Khnatsakh: Not far from Goris, too close to the enemy

Khnatsakh village in the Syunik region is surrounded by hills on all sides. It is located 109 km from the regional center of Kapan, 17 km from the village of Tegh, and 28 km from the city of Goris.

In the wake of the war, Khnatsakh has become a border village, with Azerbaijani forces advancing their positions to nearly reach the village and establishing themselves 100–200 meters away from the homes.

According to the 2011 census conducted in Armenia, Khnatsakh had a permanent population of 998, with 780 residents currently living there.

The residents engage in livestock breeding, agriculture, and beekeeping.

Among the many monuments in the area are four khachkars (Armenian cross-stones) situated on the heights of the village, one dating back to 1301, another to 1581, the third to 1601, and the last one to 1620.

The khachkars on the four heights surrounding Khnatsakh and their inscriptions provide valuable information about the history of the settlement and the Melik-Haykazyan family

Since the 44-day Artsakh war and the subsequent border changes, the valuable khachkars on the four heights surrounding Khnatsakh have appeared 400–960 meters from the border.

Recently, gunfire from the Azerbaijani side has been heard daily in the village. The residents of Khnatsakh and the administrative head confirmed in an interview with ABC media that there are gunshots, while the Ministry of Defense noted that the occasionally recorded shots do not target the territory of Armenia. The recent Azerbaijani gunfire has damaged the village’s Cultural House.