Ani ruins used as pasture

Ani ruins on the Armenian-Turkish border are being used by the residents of Ojakil village as pasture, Sondakika website reports.

Four security officers controlling the territory cannot manage to control 78 hectares of territory while the villagers reach even Akhuryan River for feeding the animals.

Culture and tourism department of Kars province asked the village residents to be more sensitive. Head of the department periodically meets with the villagers and reminds about the significance of the ruins saying that in case of the implementation of tourism development programs they may earn money.

“Naturally it is not pleasant. That’s why it is necessary to speak with villagers one by one. We explain that it is not right to do so. They promised to be more attentive, but sometimes they set the animals free and the latter go in the direction of the water,” he said.