Aghkend is a village in the Zangezur uezd of the former Yelizavetpol (Ganja) governorate, later in the former Garakilsa (Sisian) district, and currently in the Syunik province. The provincial centre lies 109 km to the northwest of the town of Gafan, at the low flow of the Takhtakorpu River, which is the right branch of the Bazarchay River, and the left branch of the Sisian River, at a height of 1,680 m above sea level. It was marked on the five-verst map of the Caucasus.

The village had been inhabited by Azerbaijanis until 1828. The Armenians, who had been removed from the Iranian provinces of Khoy and Salmas, were settled in the village in 1828–1829 and the Azerbaijanis were deported from their historical-ethnic land. Following the establishment of the Zangezur uezd in Soviet Armenia on 31 August 1921, this settlement was integrated into the administrative area of Armenia.

The toponym was coined by combining the word “agh” used in the meaning “small” and the geographical nomen “kend”.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 17 April 1948, the village was renamed “Ashotavan”. 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 Syunik province.

Geographic coordinates: latitude: 39°28’35” N., longitude: 45°59’ 52” E.