Garen Dallakyan and Anush Atanesyan, a couple from Shurnukh, look at their house located in the southern portion of the village through binoculars every day, which is currently under Azerbaijani control as a result of demarcation efforts.
“We didn’t burn our house down, nor did we destroy anything. We also didn’t cut down our apple trees. I think that house will be ours again,” Anush told Aravot Daily in an interview. They weren’t able to move all of their belongings; some things remained in the basement. “Now, I’ve noticed that they keep going into our basement,” Anush Atanesyan said.
According to her, this wasn’t just a move. It was more so like escaping from theft. They have been living in Shurnukh since 1994. They renovated the house using money they made over the years. Then, they built a new barn. But they left within a matter of hours, even though they had an ownership license. “If those lands belonged to someone else, the state shouldn’t have given us a license. Why did they give it to us? If this is a 30-year history, they should have said, ‘Garen, live there, but you must leave when we tell you to.’ Why didn’t they? Now, they’re looking for someone to blame,” Garen Dallakyan said.
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Now, they are staying with their relatives in a half-ruined house. The owners of the home are not staying in the village. Their cows are in their neighbor’s barn. “I thought I should do some work here, fix some doors and windows, until we figure out our situation,” Garen said.
According to Anush, they were in Goris two days ago. When they returned, they saw Azerbaijani soldiers standing on the road underneath the Azerbaijani sign. “I don’t understand what Nikol is doing, but I thought to myself, ‘What if they wear civilian clothes and go to Goris or somewhere else?’ They know how to speak Armenian. They will commit sabotage or poison our water. Who will be held responsible? Who is controlling them?” Anush said.
She said that Armenians and Azerbaijanis can no longer live among one another. “They killed so many young boys and tortured them. After seeing those videos, how can we live among them? No matter how many years pass, it will be the same,” Anush said.
“How will we live among one another? It will be difficult. At least 2 or 3 generations need to pass,” Garen said, and he got back to work.
The government is preparing to build 12 homes in Shurnukh for the families who lost their homes as a result of demarcation.
But until then, life in Shurnukh continues. Smoke rises from the chimneys, children play in the streets, and those who lost their homes are moving their belongings from neighbors’ homes to their temporary dwellings.
By the way, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan met with the residents of Shurnukh yesterday. The residents of Shurnukh who lost their homes will receive a one-time payment of 300,000 AMD, and until their new homes are built, every member of each family will receive 68,000 AMD.
Armen Davtyan
