Armenian residents of Artsakh’s Karvatchar region are scrambling to vacate their homes by tomorrow, November 14, at 15:00.

They have been informed that region will be handed over to Azerbaijan, this according to one of the conditions of the November 10 ceasefire agreement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan.

Many residents have neither the money nor the time to meet the deadline. Many have livestock that must be transported to Armenia or to other areas still controlled by Armenian forces in Artsakh.

Volunteers have come to their aid, but there is a shortage of trucks.

The road connecting Karvatchar to Armenia passes through the Gegharkunik Province.

Hetq asked Vanik Harutyunyan, Head of the Gegharkunik Provincial Department of Local Self-Government and Coordination of Republican Executive Bodies, what support is being provided to the residents of Karvatchar in moving their personal property. Harutyunyan said everything possible is being done to help.

The situation on the ground, however, remains problematic.

Hakob Mikoyan has been helping the people of Karvatchar for the past four days, renting a truck to help residents make the move.

Mikoyan told Hetq that there aren’t enough vehicles to transport belongings out of the area.

Our conversation was short. Mikoyan had to leave to help yet another family collect their property and move it to Armenia.

“Everything that can be sold is taken away, from wood to school furniture, house windows, etc. I do not want to say more, but this will be the disgrace of our nation," said Mikoyan.

Some Karvatchar residents are forced to drive their livestock across the border to Armenia on foot.

There are reports that people from Vardenis and other villages in Armenia have gone to the area, purchased livestock at cheap prices, slaughtering the animals on the spot. They bring the carcasses back to Armenia.

"People are doing what they can. It’s very chaotic," Mikoyan adds. He notes that while there is no shortage of trucks going to Karvatchar, their owners are going to see what they can scavenge or buy at discounted prices.

"But no one salvaged the library. Who needs books? They can leave them and burn them. There were two libraries, one a public library and one for the school. I moved the books myself,” said Mikoyan.

He said that the exodus has been totally unregulated, a free for all.

Mikoyan accused the police of inaction, saying that cops on the scene had even stopped checking for firearms.