In 2005 , “Khor Armat” LLC  bought a plot of land in the Koghb Community of Tavush Marz along with existing buildings, wells for the use of the workshop, a reinforced concrete water tank and all other property, which was a food factory in Soviet times.

Later, it was found out that a part of that land, wells, reinforced concrete water container are used by “Armenian Water and Sewerage” CJSC to supply water to neighboring Berdavan and other communities without any legal basis. “Veolia Jur” CJSC has continued water supply since 2017.

Arpine Yeghikyan, a lawyer representing the interests of “Khor Armat” LLC , mentioned in an interview with Iravaban.net that at that time the company applied to “Armenian Water and Sewerage”, and to “Veolia Jur” CJSC, to the state and local bodies, in order to either release already its property, or agree and continue to use it on a legal basis, based on a contract. “Taking into account that the problem of drinking water of the population is primary, taking into account the interest of the population of the nearby settlement, “Khor Aramt” LLC refrained from resorting to self-defense of its rights and did not close the area. Since the negotiations were futile, the Company applied to the court in 2015 with a demand for eviction,” Yeghikyan says.

According to the lawyer, the case went through all the instances. “After a 6-year court process, the Company’s demand for eviction was satisfied. The judgment of the Court of Cassation entered into force in 2021,” she says and notes that everything is not over with that.

In 2021, on the initiative of the Water Committee of the RA MEINR (Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia), as a result of the discussion held in July, the agreement of the participants was recorded that RA will buy the land from the Company in order to organize water supply for the population. According to the agreement, “Khor Armat” LLC has withdrawn the writ of execution, suspending the process of enforcement of the eviction.

In the period from August 2021 to October 2022, the plot purchase process was not secured, and the illegal use of the Company’s property continued without paying any compensation or rent to the Company, therefore “Khor Armat” LLC again submitted the writ of execution.

On 3 October, 2022, the enforcement service carried out the eviction of “Veolia Jur” CJSC from the territory of “Khor Armat” LLC, and the property was handed over to the representative of “Veolia Jur” CJSC.

“Realizing that as a result of the expulsion of “Veolia Jur” CJSC from the Company’s territory and the competent state authorities not taking any action, the supply of drinking water to the border village of Berdavan is stopped, and the population suffers, as well as responding to the urgings of the head of the Noyemberyan Community and the Head of the Administration of Berdavan, the Management of “Khor Armat” LLC once again showed a humanitarian approach and did not object to the water supply not being stopped for some time, at the same time it appealed to all competent authorities. The Company also informed that it is going to fully exercise its owner’s rights, and from 1 November, 2022, the water supply from its territory will be stopped and noted that “Khor Armat” LLC does not bear any responsibility for the interruption of drinking water supply,

It should also be noted that “Khor Armat” LLC addressed the above-mentioned letter to RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, Chairman of the Water Committee Vahagn Gevorgyan, Head of Tavush Marz Hayk Ghalumyan, Head of Noyemberyan Enlarged Community Arsen Aghababyan, Head of the Administration of Berdavan Aram Zurabyan, CEI of “Veolia Jur” CJSC Marianna Shahinyan.

Thus, as a result of the inaction of the Water Committee and Veolia Jur, an entire village will be deprived of drinking water.