The working group led by the Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan conducted a visit in May 2025 to the Kapan, Meghri, and Tegh communities of the Syunik province, including the border settlements of Shikahogh, Srashen, and Tsav in the Kapan community, Alvank and Shvanidzor in the Meghri community, as well as Khnatsakh and Khoznavar in the Tegh community. The visit was carried out jointly with the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, Françoise Jacob. This is reported by the Office of the HRD of Armenia.

During the visit, residents raised concerns regarding access to drinking and irrigation water, ensuring employment, safety, property rights, difficulties in engaging in agriculture and cattle breeding, medical aid and services, the absence of public transport, as well as a number of other issues.

The recorded issues were summarized by the HRD institution and addressed to the competent state authorities. Subsequent consistent work was carried out regarding their progress.

As a result of effective cooperation between the Defender’s institution and the competent state authorities, a portion of the raised issues has been resolved. According to information received from the competent state authorities, some of the solutions are presented below.

Within the framework of the RA Government's 2021-2026 Action Plan, the construction of the new building for the Meghri subdivision of the "Scientific-Practical Center of Forensic Medicine" SNCO has been completed in the Meghri community of Syunik province. The medical facility has been equipped with furniture and equipment meeting modern standards and is already operational. The program plans to implement the modernization process of forensic medical services in the regions, including the Meghri community of the Syunik province.

A series of operations are being carried out to organize dialysis services at the Meghri Medical Center.

To resolve the drinking water supply issue in the Shikahogh settlement, a relevant water-use permit for drinking and domestic water utilization from the "Khoravand" spring was granted in 2025.

Works to improve the drinking water supply systems of Shikahogh, Alvank, Shvanidzor, Khoznavar, and Khnatsakh settlements have been included in projects to be implemented in cooperation with international partners.

The remaining issues raised by the residents of the aforementioned settlements continue to be under the direct attention of the Human Rights Defender.

Ensuring the full guarantee and unimpeded realization of the fundamental rights of border settlement residents is one of the core directions of the Human Rights Defender's activity.