Kaftarli

Kaftarli is a village in the Alexandropol uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Artik district, and currently in the Shirak province. The provincial centre lies 16 km to the southwest of the town of Gumru, at a height of 1,700 m above sea level. Until 1972 it had been within the former Abaran district. It was marked in the “The Iravan Province Review Book”, on the five-verst map of the Caucasus.

Until the early 19th century the village had been solely inhabited by Azerbaijanis. After the the Treaty of Turkmenchay was signed in 1828, the Armenians removed from the Alashkirt province of Türkiye were settled in the village.

The toponym originated from the name of the Kaftarli dynasty.

By decision of the Land Committee of Armenian SSR in 1924, the village was renamed “Panik”. 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 Shirak province.

Geographical coordinates: latitude: 40°39’ N., longitude: 43°56’ E.