Yukhari Khatunarkh is a village in the Echmiadzin uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Uchkilsa (Echmiadzin, Vagharshapat) district, and currently in the Armavir province. The provincial centre is located 34 km to the southeast of the town of Serdarabad (Armavir), next to the Boyuk Garasu River and at a height of 835 m above sea level. The village was marked on the five-verst map of the Caucasus.

Until 1828 the village had been solely inhabited by Azerbaijanis. After the Treaty of Turkmenchay, the Armenians removed from Khoy County of Iran were settled in the village in 1828–1829 and the Azerbaijanis were deported by Armenian militants. At present, the village is inhabited only by Armenians.

The village was built by Khatun, the wife of the Khan of Iravan Safigulu khan (1655-1680) on the bank of the canal from the Boyuk Garasu River and named Khatunarkh in her honour. Hence its name. The word “yukhari” at the beginning of the toponym denotes a distinctive feature.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 25 January 1978, the village was renamed “Aknashen”. According to the law “On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia” dated 7 November 1995, it was integrated into the administrative territory of the Armavir province.

Geographic coordinates: latitude 40°05’ N., longitude 44°17’E.