Constitutional law expert argues referendum needed for Tigranashen  transfer

ArmInfo. A national referendum must be held regarding the transfer of the village of  Tigranashen to Azerbaijan, according to constitutional law expert  Gohar Meloyan.

She noted that the Law on Administrative-Territorial Division  designates Tigranashen as a settlement within the Republic of  Armenia, specifically part of the Ararat community in the Ararat  Province.

"Even with the amendments made to the aforementioned law in 2021,  Tigranashen continues to be a populated locality within the enlarged  Ararat community. In other words, the authorities have legislatively  recognized this settlement as an inseparable part of the territory of  the Republic of Armenia," the expert emphasized.

She pointed out that residents hold documents issued by Armenia's  competent authorities, such as property ownership certificates, and  that the village participated in national electoral processes with  its own designated polling station.

Meloyan cited Part 1 of Article 205 of the Constitution of Armenia,  which mandates that issues concerning alterations to the territory of  the Republic of Armenia must be resolved through referendums. She  argued that without a nationwide referendum where a majority of  participants vote in favor of a territorial change, any transfer of  Tigranashen is legally void and unconstitutional.

Recall, during a briefing on August 20, RA Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan stated that Artsvashen is Armenian territory, while Kyarki  (Tigranashen), Barkhudarlu, and Yukhari Askipara (Verin Voskepar) are  not.