When I asked the 55-year-old Yeghia Artin Keoshkerian what he works in Syria, he replied, “A terrorist, in other words, a man with a weapon, a deputy head of the Lebanese military police.” As to what caused him to visit “Aravot” editorial, it became evident during our conversation. The man introducing himself to be a citizen of the Republic of Syria, Yeghia Keoshkerian, said that in 2012, he was registered at the Migration service as a refugee. He was provided a special shelter at the famous dormitory located in Moldavakan Street, 2nd Nork district. In N 29/1 dormitory, he stayed for three months until he was given a travel passport.
The Migration Service told him that he should vacate this special shelter for another shelter. Mr. Yeghia has come to Armenia alone, his wife died of cancer, his daughter is left in Syria, currently she is married. “I left the special shelter and went to write an application to the Migration Service. I received the response. But it has been three years ago since I have been placed to nowhere. Recently, I applied to the MES Migration Department and I was accepted by Terteryan, Bakhshyan and Yeganyan. They decided to send me to the village of Arevis, Sisian region. I talked to the mayor and they were supposed to provide me with a house. They gave me the name of the village mayor and his phone number,” tells Mr. Yeghia. Prior to leaving for Sisian, he once again spoke to the village mayor and the latter assured that everything is fine.
Prior to leaving for Sisian, my interlocutor visits the “Mission Armenia” organization asking for travelling expenses and some utensils for living. The village is close to the border with Nakhchivan, and you can get to the village only by a car as there is no transport going from Sisian. The first impression was as follows when Mr. Yeghia saw the village. “I was met by the village deputy mayor. He took me to his house and treated me to meal. I went to “my” house: it had walls but no windows, no roof, no water, and no electricity. I said how this could be. This village has 20 families, 16 of which go to Sisian during the winter season. There is no shop. I should have spent the winter with the four family. If someone gets sick and they call an ambulance, until it comes from Sisian, it will take him to the dissecting room rather than to the hospital.”
My interlocutor decides to go to Sisian to meet the City Mayor. He was told there that they cannot help him with anything and have sent him to Kapan to meet with Governor Surik Khachatryan. “I paid five thousand drams to go to Goris from Sisian, I went to Goris. There was no transport going from Sisian to Kapan. Getting to Goris, I decided to meet with the city mayor so that after his phone call I would go to meet with the governor. His name was Vachik. The deputy governor called and talked. His name was David. He said, “Go back to Sisian and meet with Samvel Tangyan. I went down to Sisian. I found Samvel Tangyan, who promised me to give a place in the dormitory the next day,” tell the refugee. He gets on a taxi to go to the Arevis village, where he had left his clothes and bags at the house of the deputy village mayor. He take all that he had and comes to Samvel Tangyan. This time, according to my interlocutor, he informs that he cannot be helpful to our compatriot. The citizen is left outside without money because the travel expenses provided by “Mission Armenia” were used up.
The employee of the Governors’ office says there is no chance to help him with anything and period. “I was hungry, thirsty and stayed in the bench in front of the Sisian City Hall. It was very cold. I went to sleep. I woke up in the morning and I saw that my bags are gone. Now, I am left with this one shirt,” says Ye. Keoshkerian. He was unable to apply to the local police department. He returned to Yerevan and tried to meet with the deputy minister A. Bakhshyan, but Ye. Keoshkerian says, it was unsuccessful. She did not accept him. Our compatriot has stayed in the Republic Square, he sleeps either in the bench here or goes down to the Hrazdan gorge to find a shelter from the rain. The refugee had applied to the President of the Republic.
According to the official letter dated August 19 from the deputy minister of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations available with “Aravot”, with regard to the letter addressed to the President of the Republic of Armenia on providing a room in the dormitory, it was written, “Currently, there is no vacant room in the dormitories of the “Dormitories” SNCO of the MES State Migration Service and is not available for 2015.” According to the same letter, the citizen is offered a construction in the Kanahat community, Syunik marz, as a temporary shelter, as well as the shelter in Arevis community, which he refused. The missing bags of our compatriot and one day forced stay in Sisian was estimated by the Migration Service as “own initiative and adventure.” “This Ministry does not bear a responsibility for these failures,” they told to our compatriot, also dropping hints about considering his application in the case of having a vacant room available.
Yeghia Keoshkerian, who had undergone three surgeries, had photographed the open roof barn-like shelter with his mobile phone. He had also photographed the police officer of the Ministry who assuming the duties of the officials, has angrily said, “Who are you? Why have you come from Syria? Go to another country.” He is going to apply to the police chief of the Republic with regard to the policeman.
Ruzan MINASYAN, “Aravot” daily
