During our one-day visit to the border villages of the Tavush region, Chinari, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur, and Aygepar, it became evident to us once again how heroic people live and create near the border.
Even the fact that all the necessary protection methods were used for journalists after the events in July, and everything was done so that we could move about as safely as possible, there was still some level of internal tension. Especially when we were able to hear gunshots as we were working, and even the children served as examples of what needs to be done in such cases.
People live as though everything is fine. Neither the projectile fired by the tanks on their house, nor the heavy firearms, nor the machine gun fire could suppress them. In fact, it’s just the opposite- they are standing strongly with their land and country. They are not scared; they say that the enemy should be afraid instead. They want to live in peace, but they are prepared to defend their homes selflessly if necessary. They have lived with that mentality since the day they were born.
Syuzan Parsyan of the Nerkin Karmiraghbyur village, whose home was destroyed in an explosion caused by a projectile fired by a tank, said, “We live our regular lives. It’s only when they fire upon us and we realize that we need to go somewhere safe that we use the appropriate measures. When do they usually fire? They fire whenever they feel like it. They don’t have a specific day or time. They usually fire towards the trenches or moving cars. It’s not even safe to walk on the road. But we’re used to it. If it’s the type of weapon that we know can’t reach the village, we don’t pay much attention to it. But if we know that it’s a projectile and it will reach the village, we act accordingly.”
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We asked if they have any intention to leave the village. “I was born in this village, and my family lives here. We didn’t leave the village during the last war, and we have no intention of leaving now. We love our village, and we will stay here,” Syuzan responded.
Ashot Hakobyan
