Chotur is a village in the Alexandropol uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Hamamli (Spitak) district, and currently in the Lori province. The provincial centre lies 24 km to the northwest of the town of Boyuk Garakilsa (Vanadzor), at a height of 1,770 m above sea level. The village had been within the district of Garakilsa (Gugark) until the district of Hamamli was established (1937).

The village was initially inhabited by Azerbaijanis who gradually left it, after Armenians had been settled in the region. Armenians were removed to the village in 1828–1829 from the Turkish provinces of Khnis (Hnis) and Mush.

The toponym was coined on the basis of the word “chotur” used in Turkish in the meaning of “an edge, outside”.

The village was renamed “Saramech” by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 26 April 1946. According to the law “On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia” dated 7 November 1995, it was integrated into the administrative area of the Lori province.

Geographic coordinates: latitude: 40°46’ N., longitude: 44°13′ E.