Tweet
ARMENIANS WHO LOST THEIR HOMES IN MARAKHA START NEW LIFE IN BERDZOR
Azg/arm
12 Jan 05
Author of "The Black Garden" British journalist Tom de Waal wrote in
his book that the Azeris invaded Marakha village on April 10 of 1992
but Armenian forces fought the village back the next day and buried 43
beheaded and burnt bodies of Armenians. 50 more Marakha Armenians were
captured 19 of whom didnot return anymore.
The village with a rich economy became an enemy territory and its
inhabitants spread all over Russia, USA and elsewhere. Some of them
began a new life in the region of Qashatakh, in the river gorge of
Hakar. Four families settledin Berdzor, former Lachin. Roza Avanesian,
82, says that her Marakha house has turned into a vantage point for
snipers. "I've left there my two-storied house and my pregnant cows. I
shudder to think of that. Lamentation accompanied us on our way out of
the village", Roza Avanesian tells.
The Avanesian's family was one of the first to settle in Berdzor.
Armenian forces conquered Lachin in May 18 of 1992, a month later
after the Marakha pogroms. On November 26 of 1991 the Supreme Council
of Azerbaijan ordered the ministries of defense and home affairs to
clear Nagorno Karabakh off Armenian population and to defend local
Azeris. But the Karabakh forces managed not only to defend the
Armenian population of the region but also to conquer strategic
territories out of the administrative territory of Karabakh.
"We left our homes naked. We went to Hrazdan at first but it was
impossible to make a living there. We were going to leave for Russia
when learnt aboutthe chance to settle at the liberated Berdzor. And we
have been here since 1994", Valiry Avanesian says.
Angela, Valiry's sister, also settled in Berdzor with her husband and
4 children. "We fled from the Turks, and now they live in our houses",
Angela Avanesian says.
Berdzor is the administrative center of Qashatakh region and was
formed in 1994 including Hakar river gorge, regions of Lachin,
Khubatlu (nowaday Qashunik) and Zangelan (nowaday Kovsakan) that were
forcibly united with the Soviet Azerbaijan at the beginning of the
past century.
Plumber Slavik Grigorian notes with pain that 5 more villages of
Martakert region together with his native Marakha are still under
Azeris' control. "I left my home in overalls, leaving everything we
had. We feel in safety her, though we are not as rich as we were in
Marakha", Slavik Grigorian says praising God.
Armenian refugees of Azerbaijan and of the Northern Martakert region
are not the only inhabitants of Berdzor and Qashatakh. There are also
people from Armenia each of whom has his own reason for settling in
the Hakar gorge.
Father Atanes Movsisian serving at Qashatakh region, settled in
Berdzor for8 years ago. "We have great spiritual legacy in these
territories liberated at the price of our martyrs. There were churches
once but unfortunately most of them lie in ruins today.
Tsitsernakavanq, a church of 4th century, has been reconstructed.
Today there are 3 churches that hold weekly services in Qashatakh",
father Atanes says.
The Holy Ascension Church of Berdzor was built after the territory was
liberated, Tsitsernakavanq was reconstructed on the money the Najarian
family from the US and another church was built in Aghavno village.
There are dozens of semi-ruined churches and hundreds of khachqars
(cross-stones) in Qashatakh.
The regions of Khubatlu, Zangelan and Lachin that are included in
Qashatakh were once Armenian regions in Syuniq province. Muslims,
mainly Turkish-speaking Kurds, penetrated the territories in 18th
century. In 1923, when Stalin created the autonomous region of Red
Kurdistan, the Armenian Qarvatchar, Qashatakh, Qashunik and Kovsakan
regions were included into newly formed unit.
On m y way back to Yerevan, Kamo, the taxi driver, was telling that if
the Azeris had opened the Lachin corridor in 1991-92 when the Karabakh
forces were retreating and Azerbaijan had half of Karabakh, then
Armenians would possibly leave Karabakh for Armenia. He reminded that
Karabakh forces broke through enemy 's defense on May 18 and opened
the humanitarian corridor. Now Kamo's taxi was picking up speed on the
corridor's paved road.
By Tatoul Hakobian
Azg/arm
12 Jan 05
Author of "The Black Garden" British journalist Tom de Waal wrote in
his book that the Azeris invaded Marakha village on April 10 of 1992
but Armenian forces fought the village back the next day and buried 43
beheaded and burnt bodies of Armenians. 50 more Marakha Armenians were
captured 19 of whom didnot return anymore.
The village with a rich economy became an enemy territory and its
inhabitants spread all over Russia, USA and elsewhere. Some of them
began a new life in the region of Qashatakh, in the river gorge of
Hakar. Four families settledin Berdzor, former Lachin. Roza Avanesian,
82, says that her Marakha house has turned into a vantage point for
snipers. "I've left there my two-storied house and my pregnant cows. I
shudder to think of that. Lamentation accompanied us on our way out of
the village", Roza Avanesian tells.
The Avanesian's family was one of the first to settle in Berdzor.
Armenian forces conquered Lachin in May 18 of 1992, a month later
after the Marakha pogroms. On November 26 of 1991 the Supreme Council
of Azerbaijan ordered the ministries of defense and home affairs to
clear Nagorno Karabakh off Armenian population and to defend local
Azeris. But the Karabakh forces managed not only to defend the
Armenian population of the region but also to conquer strategic
territories out of the administrative territory of Karabakh.
"We left our homes naked. We went to Hrazdan at first but it was
impossible to make a living there. We were going to leave for Russia
when learnt aboutthe chance to settle at the liberated Berdzor. And we
have been here since 1994", Valiry Avanesian says.
Angela, Valiry's sister, also settled in Berdzor with her husband and
4 children. "We fled from the Turks, and now they live in our houses",
Angela Avanesian says.
Berdzor is the administrative center of Qashatakh region and was
formed in 1994 including Hakar river gorge, regions of Lachin,
Khubatlu (nowaday Qashunik) and Zangelan (nowaday Kovsakan) that were
forcibly united with the Soviet Azerbaijan at the beginning of the
past century.
Plumber Slavik Grigorian notes with pain that 5 more villages of
Martakert region together with his native Marakha are still under
Azeris' control. "I left my home in overalls, leaving everything we
had. We feel in safety her, though we are not as rich as we were in
Marakha", Slavik Grigorian says praising God.
Armenian refugees of Azerbaijan and of the Northern Martakert region
are not the only inhabitants of Berdzor and Qashatakh. There are also
people from Armenia each of whom has his own reason for settling in
the Hakar gorge.
Father Atanes Movsisian serving at Qashatakh region, settled in
Berdzor for8 years ago. "We have great spiritual legacy in these
territories liberated at the price of our martyrs. There were churches
once but unfortunately most of them lie in ruins today.
Tsitsernakavanq, a church of 4th century, has been reconstructed.
Today there are 3 churches that hold weekly services in Qashatakh",
father Atanes says.
The Holy Ascension Church of Berdzor was built after the territory was
liberated, Tsitsernakavanq was reconstructed on the money the Najarian
family from the US and another church was built in Aghavno village.
There are dozens of semi-ruined churches and hundreds of khachqars
(cross-stones) in Qashatakh.
The regions of Khubatlu, Zangelan and Lachin that are included in
Qashatakh were once Armenian regions in Syuniq province. Muslims,
mainly Turkish-speaking Kurds, penetrated the territories in 18th
century. In 1923, when Stalin created the autonomous region of Red
Kurdistan, the Armenian Qarvatchar, Qashatakh, Qashunik and Kovsakan
regions were included into newly formed unit.
On m y way back to Yerevan, Kamo, the taxi driver, was telling that if
the Azeris had opened the Lachin corridor in 1991-92 when the Karabakh
forces were retreating and Azerbaijan had half of Karabakh, then
Armenians would possibly leave Karabakh for Armenia. He reminded that
Karabakh forces broke through enemy 's defense on May 18 and opened
the humanitarian corridor. Now Kamo's taxi was picking up speed on the
corridor's paved road.
By Tatoul Hakobian