The US Embassy has not Tightened Travel Restrictions in the RA Border Areas

Information is spreading on social networks that the Embassy of the United States of America has issued a statement prohibiting its citizens from visiting certain areas of Armenia.

In fact, the security alert issued by the US Embassy is essentially an update of the warning made on September 13 regarding the aggression of Azerbaijan against Armenia, with milder and more concise wording.

Below are the two US Embassy statements made on September 13th and September 23rd (key differences highlighted).

September 13th

Local media and officials have reported fighting along the Armenian-Azerbaijan border, including attacks near Artanish, Goris, Ishkhanasar, Jermuk, Kapan, Sotk, and Vardenis.  There have also been reports of attacks against civil infrastructure.  Due to these reported hostilities, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan advises U.S. citizens that U.S. Embassy employees and their families are now prohibited from any non-essential travel to the following locations:

“Local media and officials report fighting along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, including attacks near Artanish, Goris, Ishkhanasar, Jermuk, Kapan, Sotk and Vardenis. There are also reports of attacks against civilian infrastructure. In connection with these hostilities, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan is notifying U.S. citizens that Embassy employees and their families are now prohibited from traveling to the following locations:

Tavush region along the M4 highway north of Ijevan and all areas eastward.

Gegharkunik region east of Lake Sevan.

Gegharkunik region south of Lake Sevan and east of the M10 highway.

Yeraskh village in Ararat region.

Vayots Dzor region

Syunik region

As a reminder, travel to Nagorno-Karabakh continues to be prohibited.

U.S. citizens should continue to exercise caution near all international borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan and avoid travel near the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and line of contact. The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in and around Nagorno-Karabakh as access is restricted.

The U.S. Embassy will continue to monitor the security situation and provide additional information as needed.”

September 23rd

“Exercise increased caution in Armenia due to armed conflict. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Following the September 13-14 military actions on the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border U.S. Embassy employees and their families are prohibited from any non-essential travel to the following locations:

Gegharkunik region east of Lake Sevan.

Gegharkunik region south of Lake Sevan and east of the M10 highway.

Yeraskh village in Ararat region.

Vayots Dzor region, east of Yeghegnadzor

Syunik region

Travel to Nagorno-Karabakh continues to be prohibited.”

Thus, the US Embassy’s security alert issued on September 23 is an shortened and somewhat milder version of the September 13 notice, and applies only to the US Embassy employees and their families.

Hakob Karapetyan