The people of Artsakh who sought refuge in the Lori province during the war are returning to their homes. The latest group returned to their homeland early in the morning.
Vladimir Avsharyan
Sixty-six-year-old Vladimir Avsharyan arrived in Vanadzor on October 14th. Before then, he lived his entire life in the Shekher village of Martuni. He was born, raised, and created his life there, but everything was destroyed almost two months ago. The village was transferred to the enemy. But, as he said, he needs to hold onto what our soldiers fought for at the cost of their lives, which is why he will be returning home today. In the beginning, he will live at his father-in-law’s house in the Herher village. But he found it difficult to speak of the future. Only time will tell.
He has faith in the Russians now. “If the Russian army, which is currently in Artsakh, gives the people of Artsakh Russian citizenship, then both Artsakh and Armenia will be safe. Or, Artsakh needs to be recognized as an independent state.”
Vladimir’s wife, Aregak, who worked at the village school, continued her husband’s statement. But, unlike Vladimir, she is afraid of what the future holds. “We are going to Artsakh now, but we don’t know what awaits us. We don’t have a home. We’re going to stay at my brother’s house. We will see what the others will do, and then we will do the same. What do we have to lose? But we are very pleased with the way we were treated by the people in Armenia.”
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Meline Nersesyan
Another individual who was returning, Meline Nersesyan, believes that Artsakh will once again be the way it was in the past: free and independent. She is not scared to live near Turks. She is thankful to everyone who helped her in Armenia and provided her with shelter. Now, she is happy to return to Artsakh. “We are going back with a lot of faith. We need to do everything, create, and live in our Artsakh. We’re living there to the Turks’ chagrin.”
Nairuhi was another individual returning to Artsakh. She, along with her three young children, has been in Lori for the past two months. She took her 20-day-old newborn and her other two children and came to Armenia when the war began. She lived in the Tumanyan village of Lori, but she decided to return to her home in Artsakh. Her husband is in Artsakh. The family is preparing to move to Stepanakert and rent an apartment. They will work until they can try to buy their own place. “If we don’t return to Artsakh, we will lose it completely. Our victory depends on that. The fact that the people of Artsakh are returning to their homes is a victory,” Nairuhi said.
Approximately 50 people returned to their homes in Artsakh today.
Tatevik Ghazaryan
