Category: 2021

‘Armenia is a reliable partner for Italy in the region’, President Mattarella says

Emil Lazarian

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 17:09, 6 October, 2021

ROME, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian’s this visit to Italy is historical as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the independence of Armenia, President Sergio Mattarella said during the joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart in Rome, Armenpress correspondent reports from the scene.

“I once again address my warm congratulations to President Armen Sarkissian. I am happy that we can conduct this visit as it was delayed because of the pandemic. Armenia and Italy can be proud of their friendly relations. We have several cooperation areas. I want to thank Mr. Sarkissian for Armenia’s engagement into the UN peacekeeping forces”, the Italian President said.

Sergio Mattarella stated that the partnership of Italy and Armenia was reaffirmed also during the pandemic, as the doctors in both countries have worked together. A work has been done on providing vaccines against COVID-19 to Armenia.

“Armenia is a reliable partner for Italy in the region. We know that reforms are taking place in Armenia, we are ready to carry out an exchange of experience in areas such as legal, judicial system. During the meeting we talked about the interests the Italian companies have towards the Armenian market. Some companies have already been set up in Armenia”, he said.

The Armenian and Italian Presidents have also discussed the cooperation in cultural, technological and scientific sectors.

President Mattarella said that Italy attaches great importance to the Armenia-EU partnership. He once again thanked President Sarkissian for this visit, stating that it’s a good occasion to reaffirm the high level of the relations between the two countries.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs agree to meet under auspices of OSCE MG Co-Chairs to discuss humanitarian issues

Ophelia Vardapetian

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 17:13, 6 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS. The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to meet again under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to discuss a number of humanitarian issues, including the return of Armenian captives who are illegally held in Azerbaijan, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said during a Q&A session in the Parliament.

“Of course, the resumption of these format discussions, negotiation process is welcome and is definitely in the interests of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. We state once again that the issue is not solved. Azerbaijan likes to say that the issue doesn’t exist anymore, but I think that this is one more assurance by the international community that the issue exists and requires solution, and the search for the solution must take place within the format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, the body having the only internationally recognized mandate”, Mirzoyan said.

He highlighted the solution of the issue within the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, stating that it at some stage supposes discussion of the most vital issues.

“I positively assess the fact that there was a perception despite the existence of tension and many unresolved issues, we agreed to meet again and first of all discuss the humanitarian issues. Of course, the talk firstly concerns the issue relating to the prisoners of war and civilians who are illegal held in Azerbaijan, the issue of the existence of captives waiting for confirmation, the access of humanitarian missions, international organizations in Nagorno Karabakh, and many other issues. I think that the positive solution of these issues would first of all be an evidence of a constructive position by Azerbaijan and would create an environment where we can discuss the most important issues in the course of time”, the Armenian FM said.

He proposed to pay attention to the formulations in the statement issued by the Co-Chairs. According to him, everything is said with that.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 06-10-21

Arsine Chaltikian

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 17:41, 6 October, 2021

YEREVAN, 6 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 6 October, USD exchange rate down by 1.66 drams to 483.01 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 4.83 drams to 557.44 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.03 drams to 6.64 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 5.59 drams to 654.53 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 114.61 drams to 27225.67 drams. Silver price up by 1.52 drams to 349.17 drams. Platinum price up by 42.47 drams to 14845.85 drams.

Another Armenian captive returns from Azerbaijan

Vorskanian Yeghisabet

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 18:41, 6 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Another captive has returned from Azerbaijan, ARMENPRESS reports Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Suren Papikyan told at the National Assembly.

Papikyan assured that everyone knows what measures the Armenian Government takes for returning all the captives from Azerbaijan.

‘’Now Artur Davidyan has returned, who had crossed the border of Artsakh on August 22, 2021. He is already in Armenia’’, Papikyan said, assuring that the Armenian authorities spare no efforts for returning the captives.

Pashinyan speaks about negotiations on building new nuclear power plant in Armenia

Antonian Lara

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 20:09, 6 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia NIkol Pashinyan informed about the negotiations on building a new nuclear power plant in Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said during the parliament-Cabinet Q&A session, answering the question of MP Sergey Bagratyan representing Civil Contract Party.

Bagratyan reminded that recently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of GeoProMining Company announced about investing 2 billion USD in mining, he also spoke about 1.5 billion investment to build a new copper smelter.

“Let’s note that for the first time since the 2000s, Armenia and the people of Armenia are co-owners of the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine. I hope that this share will increase, but to such an extent that it will not distort the market nature of our economy,” Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister noted that when it was announced that the Government was becoming the co-owner of the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine, there were opinions that there was a dark and suspicious deal. “If the owner of that 15 percent was not the Government, but an offshore company, and the owner of that offshore company was another offshore company, and the offshore owner was a member of the Prime Minister’s or any minister’s family, then it would be a dark deal,” he said.

Pashinyan noted that there are people sitting in the part of the hall representing the opposition who have made such deals during their activities, and believes that law enforcement agencies should seriously investigate into those deals to find out their cause and effect, including potentially treacherous deals.

An offer was made to Armenia by one of the owners of “Geopromining” company, a member of the Board of Directors, we discussed the offer, we saw that the offer corresponds to the economic and state interests of Armenia. “This includes two very important components: the first is the construction of a copper smelter, which means that Armenia will no longer export concentrate and import ready-made copper from somewhere else to be used in other products, but copper will be produced in Armenia. Second, the construction of a new nuclear power plant is part of this program, and this large company has undertaken investment commitments for the establishment of a copper smelter, which has been duly recorded, and negotiations on the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Armenia have already started”, PM Pashinyan said, adding that the participation of the Government in that process is important for that the nuclear power plant cannot be a fully private company, the Government should have active participation in it.

Pashinyan noted that now the Government’s task is that the construction of a new copper smelter kicks off by June 2025. “And we must try to make the construction of the nuclear power plant happen in parallel. It would be good if the operation of the copper smelter and the nuclear power plant coincide,” he said.

Armenpress: Catholicos of All Armenians meets with Pope Francis, emphasizes POWs issue

Frangulian Shushan

Catholicos of All Armenians meets with Pope Francis, emphasizes POWs issue

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 20:50, 6 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II met with Pope Francis in the Vatican, ARMENPRESS was infomred from the press service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

During the conversation Karekin II referred to the catastrophic consequences of the 44-day war, the current challenges facing Armenia and Artsakh, especially emphasizing the issue of the return of prisoners of war and those taken captive in the post-war period.

The Catholicos of All Armenians also thanked Pope Francis for the support provided to Armenia and Armenian people during the war.

Afterwards, the delegation led by His Holiness Karekin II met with Secretary of State of the Vatican Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

During the conversation, reference was made to the situation in the region after the 44-day Artsakh war. In particular, issues related to the security of the people of Artsakh, the encroachments on the sovereign territory of Armenia, as well as the preservation of the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan were discussed. The Catholicos of All Armenians greatly highlighted the role of the international community in overcoming the existing challenges and problems.

 

As Tensions Rise, Iran Holds Military Exercises Near Azerbaijan

Ani Kharatian
The National Interest
Oct 5 2021

Iran’s anger also stems partly from Azerbaijan’s quiet security partnership with Israel, which it views as a potential threat to its territory.

by Trevor Filseth 

In a show of force directed at Azerbaijan amid rising tensions, Iran’s military has initiated a series of exercises near the neighboring country’s border. Footage broadcast on Iran’s state-run television portrayed tanks and artillery taking part in the exercises in northwestern Iran, and broadcasters claimed that Iran had tested a domestically-manufactured long-range drone.

Tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan have escalated throughout 2021. In September, troops from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deployed to the border in response to joint military exercises between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan.

Iran’s anger also stems partly from Azerbaijan’s quiet security partnership with Israel, which it views as a potential threat to its territory. However, the small Caspian nation’s ties to Tel Aviv have proven highly advantageous. Israeli and Turkish drone technology, as well as other assistance, were crucial to Baku’s victory over Armenia in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War from September to November 2020. In that war, Iran proclaimed neutrality and refused to aid either side, despite its traditionally closer ties to Armenia.

Another point of contention between the two countries was raised after Azerbaijan imposed taxes on Iranian truck drivers passing through Azerbaijan’s newly conquered territory in Nagorno-Karabakh to bring goods to Armenia, and arrested two truck drivers, stoking outrage in Tehran. 

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Foreign Minister in the administration of newly elected President Ebrahim Raisi, warned Azerbaijan’s new ambassador to Tehran that the Islamic Republic would not “tolerate the presence and activities of the Zionist regime” along its borders. Amir-Abdollahian indicated that Iran would do “whatever necessary” to repel Israeli encroachment, ominously warning that the IRGC’s Quds Force were “soldiers without borders.”

Iranian leaders also expressed concern over terror groups such as ISIS, which it suggested had infiltrated its members into Azerbaijan as volunteers during its 2020 war. Azerbaijan was known to recruit Syrian mercenaries to its side during the conflict, possibly violating international law in the process.

Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev told the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency news outlet that Iran had not informed him of the planned exercises and questioned Tehran’s motivations for doing so, although he acknowledged that it was their “sovereign right” to conduct the exercises on their own territory.

While Iran and Azerbaijan are both majority-Shi’a Muslim states—two of the world’s only four such states, in addition to Bahrain and Iraq—they have a complicated history and some degree of mutual animosity. Ethnic Azeris are a majority in several of Iran’s northwestern provinces and have pushed for separation from Tehran on several occasions in the past century.

Trevor Filseth is a current and foreign affairs writer for the National Interest.

 

"Tehran is watching closely." What will happen to cargo transportation from Iran to Armenia

Boris Nahapetian

  Oct 5 2021

    JAMnews, Yerevan

For three weeks already, Azerbaijani police and customs checkpoints are operating on the section of the road between the Armenian cities of Goris and Kapan, thus slowing down cargo transportation from Iran to Armenia. There is a section of the route that came under the control of Azerbaijan after the second Karabakh war.

Azerbaijani customs officers stop Iranian trucks on the Vorotan section of the Goris-Kapan road and demand payment of customs duties “for crossing the border with Azerbaijan”. Customs posts, according to the official report of Azerbaijan, appeared due to the fact that “numerous incidents of entry of Iranian trucks into the part of Karabakh controlled by Russian peacekeepers have been established”.

The Armenian side faces serious economic problems, since 40% of the country’s trade turnover is carried out through Iran.

Tehran is actively discussing the issue with both Yerevan and Baku. But there is no final decision yet.

All the details – what is happening on the southern border of Armenia, how the country’s government intends to ensure the uninterrupted movement of Iranian trucks and expert opinion on the matter below.

  • Customs payments for Iranian trucks: what is happening at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border
  • Echo of the second Karabakh war: why Baku got the opportunity to blockade the south of Armenia

After the fall of 2020, that is, the end of the second Karabakh war, the 21-kilometer section of the road between the Armenian cities of Goris and Kapan came under the control of Azerbaijan. The security of this section of the road has been ensured by Russian border guards since December.

The tension here began on August 25, 2021, when the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan blocked the road on the Karmrakar-Shurnukh-Goris-Vorotan section and opened it only two days later. Some Armenian villages became isolated and the Russian peacekeepers had to provide them with food during these days.

On September 12, the road closed again – this time to Iranian trucks. Near the village of Vorotan, the Azerbaijani side established posts, armed masked officers began to check the documents of the drivers of Iranian trucks and transported cargo, as well as demand the payment of customs duties.

On September 15, Azerbaijani police arrested two Iranian drivers under the pretext of “illegal entry into the territory of Azerbaijan”. Until now, nothing has been reported about their fate.

The situation on the Goris-Kapan road has returned to the agenda the issue of building alternative roads in the southern border region of Armenia – Syunik, which was discussed at the beginning of the year.

“We will start construction as soon as the weather conditions permit us”, said Minister of Territorial Administration Suren Papikyan, who now holds the post of Deputy Prime Minister, in February.

To bypass the Kapan-Goris highway, the government decided to build an alternative Kapan-Tatev road. Reconstruction of the Tatev-Aghvani section of this road (43 km long) began at the end of July.

“Tatev-Aghvani will be completed this year, all unpaved roads will be ready by winter, but the asphalt road, of course, will only be in the spring”, Deputy Prime Minister Suren Papikyan told Azatutyun (Freedom) radio.

The government plans to complete the construction of the Tatev-Aghvani road by the end of November.

Along with the construction of the Tatev-Aghvani road, the Armenian government initiated the construction of another bypass route – Tatev-Ltsen. But the second highway will only be ready in the next year, 2022.

Moreover, the difference between the two bypass routes, which should become an alternative to the Goris-Kapan interstate road, is that Tatev-Aghvani is difficult to pass for trucks with trailers.

It turns out that many Iranian trucks will have to wait several more months or even a year before they can transport goods to Armenia without paying customs duties to Azerbaijan.

The situation caused tension in Tehran’s relations with Baku, and the problem was discussed with the Armenian authorities.

In response to a request from the Armenian CivilNet publication, the Iranian Embassy in Armenia stated that Tehran is closely following developments in the region in recent months, in particular, the situation with Iranian cargo trucks:

“Development of relations with friendly Armenia and removal of road obstacles and problems are on the agenda”.

The situation on the Goris-Kapan road was discussed during the summit meetings. On September 17, in Dushanbe, the heads of Armenia and Iran discussed, among others, “the issue of organization of uninterrupted cargo transportation between the two countries”.

According to Iranian news agencies, President Raisi announced that an Armenian-Iranian working group would be set up for “energy exchange, transportation and joint production”. According to the same source, Nikol Pashinyan welcomed “Iran’s initiatives to resolve existing problems”.

On September 24, in New York, within the framework of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, a meeting was held between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Iran, who discussed “challenges for transport transit from Iran to Armenia and ways to overcome them”.

Iranian Ambassador Abbas Badakhshan Zokhuri periodically discusses the situation with the Armenian authorities. In recent weeks, he met with the Speaker of the Parliament, the Secretary of the Security Council, the Foreign Minister and one of the Deputy Prime Ministers. It is reported that during these meetings, the deepening of economic cooperation and the prospect of increasing trade turnover to $ 1 billion a year were discussed.

According to Iran expert Garik Misakian, Iran is inclined to restore uninterrupted communication as soon as possible. In his opinion, judging by the statements of the Armenian and Iranian sides, one can assume that Iran is ready “to support the construction of an alternative road or take part in it”.

“Iran is not inclined towards the final closure of the Goris-Kapan road. In connection with this situation, many negative statements have already been made in Iran, even at the highest level”, says Garik Misakian, citing the arrest of two Iranian drivers as an example.

However, despite the tension that has arisen in the Iranian-Azerbaijani relations, according to Misakian, Tehran will not take any steps until the Armenian side has yet expressed its official position:

“The Iranian side has neither the tools nor the desire to interfere in this issue or solve it in favor of Armenia”.

Garik Misakian believes that Iran will first do what proceeds from its national interests, security and economic issues and will wait for Armenia’s position:

“If the Armenian side agrees to transfer control over this section of the road to Azerbaijan, Iran will accept it. If the Armenian side starts any process of returning or joint exploitation of this section of the road, Iran will adjust its policy accordingly, since it cannot interfere in the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. At this stage, it seems that Iran supports the Armenian side”.

Collecting customs duties on Iranian truck drivers on the Goris-Kapan interstate road could have serious economic consequences for Armenia. For three weeks now, economists and the opposition have been talking about the need for the country’s authorities to resolve this issue.

However, the government does not share their concerns. In particular, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan told reporters that he does not see any big problems:

“Yes, there is an obstacle that I am sure we will overcome in the near future”.

Economist Suren Parsyan believes that Armenia’s foreign trade turnover with Iran is about $410 million a year.

Armenia exports $ 90 million (electricity, which accounts for 80% of exports, meat products and timber) and imports $ 320 million from Iran (gas, oil products, fertilizers, construction materials). And all transportation is carried out by Iranian trucks.

“Armenia very often uses the territory of Iran both for import and export of goods to Arab and Asian countries. If the road issue is not resolved, Armenian goods will become more expensive and lose their competitiveness in the international market, be it the UAE, Iran, China, India or any other country”, says the economist.

Suren Parsyan considers it necessary to reduce risks, otherwise the current situation will affect the economic activity of Armenia in general and the volume of exports – with all the ensuing consequences.

According to the economist, the Tatev-Aghvani road under construction is a temporary solution: even if the road is widened, it will be difficult to pass and ensure the same volume of cargo transportation:

“The only long-term solution will be the construction of the Sisian-Agarak road within the framework of the North-South project”.

With the North-South highway, Armenia can become a transit country. From the north, it will connect Armenia with Georgia and provide access to the Black Sea and European countries. From the south, the highway will connect the country with Iran. The road began to be built in 2012, it was planned to put it into operation in 2019, but so far only about 20% have been built. In 2021, the European Union announced that it will provide 600 million euros for the construction of the most difficult sections of the highway.

Suren Parsyan notes that, according to the draft state budget, the work will begin at the end of next year. Moreover, first it will be necessary to carry out design work, and the construction itself may take another 2-3 years.

Migrant Rights Defender Flees to Armenia Following Russia Entry Ban

David Nargizian
The Moscow Times
Oct 5 2021
By Uliana Pavlova

Valentina ChupikAlexander Kim / YouTube

Prominent migrant rights defender Valentina Chupik has fled to Armenia following a 30-year entry ban to Russia, she told The Moscow Times on Tuesday.

Chupik, an Uzbek activist who had held asylum in Russia since 2009, was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport last month, with FSB officers telling her that her refugee status was revoked for alleged “document falsification” and that she is banned from entering Russia for 30 years. She has called the move “absolute nonsense” and expressed fears she could be jailed, tortured or killed if she were repatriated to Uzbekistan.

“I am currently in Armenia in a beautiful spot just on the outskirts of Yerevan,” Chupik told The Moscow Times via WhatsApp. 

Last week, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Chupik’s deportation to Uzbekistan should be suspended, applying Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, which is applied as an urgent measure in cases where there is an imminent risk of causing irreparable harm.

Russian law enforcement had also searched the apartment of Chupik’s 84-year-old mother two days after her detention. 

Chupik and her mother have now applied for asylum in Ukraine and are currently awaiting a response from the Ukrainian authorities, her aides have said. 

Chupik, 48, fled ex-Soviet Uzbekistan in 2005 following a bloody crackdown on protesters in the city of Andijan, claiming she was tortured by Uzbek special services.

In Moscow, Chupik founded the Tong Jahoni (Morning of the World) NGO which provides free legal services to migrants who have faced pressure from law enforcement agencies. 

Each year, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers travel to Russia from former Soviet republics, mainly those in Central Asia, in search of better wages. Many face discrimination and abuse from Russian citizens and authorities. 

But since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Russia has seen a mass outflow of migrant workers, triggering efforts to tackle an emerging labor shortage in industries like construction and agriculture.

Earlier this year, Russia handed a 40-year entry ban to Tajikistan-born opposition activist Saidanvar Sulaimonov in what he called retaliation for his work on a Kremlin critic’s campaign for last month’s parliamentary election.

Life among ghosts: One year after the war in Nagorno-Karabakh

Karapet Navasardian
Oct 4 2021
by GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
000

A year after the Nagorno-Karabakh war erupted on September 27, 2020 the Armenians of the enclave are trying to restore their lives even if challenges persist.

At first glance, everything seems normal in the Nagorno-Karabakh capital of Stepanakert. Food stores have raised their blinds again, as have clothing stores, beauty salons, cafes and restaurants. The market in the region’s main city, bombed during the war, is brimming with life again and buses are waiting for passengers from the central station: to take them wherever they are going. However, not everywhere is accessible to them anymore. Over 100 villages are now under Azerbaijani control..

On the morning of 27 September, 2020, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian populated unrecognized state in the Caucasus. The war that lasted for 44 days ended with the defeat of Armenians and territorial losses.

One year later, absences weigh heavily in this little-known corner of the Caucasus. The trilateral agreement to end hostilities signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 9 redrew the map of the region, displacing thousands in the process. For Gegham Stepanyan, Human Rights Ombudsman of Nagorno-Karabakh, housing is the number one problem in Nagorno-Karabakh today.

“Of the 40,000 displaced by the war here in Artsakh and in Armenia, more than half live in inhumane conditions,” said the 30-year-old defender, using the Armenian name of the self-proclaimed republic. “The government, is struggling to cope, a fact made worse by the failure of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to live up to its commitment of addressing the problems of the internally displaced under the November declaration.”

Instead, local authorities have had to rely on the Red Cross and the Russian peacekeeping contingent, deployed in the region just hours after the war, to provide humanitarian aid to local populations. Armenia and its diaspora have also extended a helping hand.

“Our letters to international organizations remain unanswered,” explained Stepanyan. In addition to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, he has also alerted UNESCO about the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage by Azerbaijan in the territories today under its control. So far there has been no reaction.

The humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh is compounded by frequent water and electricity shortages after most of the water resources and hydroelectric power plants came under Azerbaijani control after the war. As for the telephone and internet connections, they are also elusive. There is huge damage done to infrastructure, but also interference in the audio frequencies from Baku to sabotage Armenian services in Karabakh.

Colleges and universities have just resumed the start of the new academic year without water or electricity, but also without measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19. The incidence of the virus remains low, something that is attributed to the isolation of the enclave.

A single road connects Nagorno-Karabakh to the rest of the world through Armenia, an “umbilical cord” that the Azerbaijanis managed to cut during the war, but which today remains guarded by Russian peacekeepers in the area. This ensures the distribution of supplies, but also makes entry difficult for non-Armenians. International journalists are today another of the absences in Artsakh. Local authorities use “security reasons.”

Yana Avanesyan, lecturer of international law at Artsakh State University, said that she finds it difficult to explain to her students that international law can be a protection mechanism against attacks like last year. “What credibility do I have after everyone turned their backs on us?” said the 27-year-old lawyer.

She also recognizes that she still does not assimilate everything that has happened last year. “I can’t get used to the idea that I can’t visit Shushi, less than fifteen minutes from here, or the Tigranakert fortress.”

Fear

The borders have moved during the last twelve months, and sometimes even crossing towns through the middle. This is the case of Taghavard: today there are Azerbaijani forces deployed in its church and cemetery. On the other side of the fence, the locals watch the scene from their windows.

Mayor Oleg Harutyunyan is one of those who lost his old house next to the cemetery. He said that of the 1,325 registered in Taghavard before the war, only 600 remain. After firing from the Azerbaijani side became as common as the lack of water or electricity, the Russian peacekeepers deployed between both sides. The mayor said that this has brought “a certain tranquility” to the people.

“At the beginning of the academic year we had only five students in our school, but today there are more than thirty,” said Gohar Shakaryan. She teaches history in a class overlooking the Azeri troops, a privileged vantage point from which to observe the course of events in real time.

Many have returned to the village, but uncertainty is today the most difficult challenge they face. And it is that, beyond the material and territorial losses, the psychological impact of war on society. “We think a lot about what will happen next, and what awaits us, and still know nothing,” the teacher said, expressing the concern of the villagers.

Adding to the pain are the videos circulating on the internet that record the inhuman treatment inflicted on Armenian soldiers still in prison by the Azerbaijanis. Yerevan assures that Baku has returned 69 and, although the number of those still being held is unknown, international organizations such as Human Rights Watch have accused Azerbaijan of “war crimes” after verifying these videos.

There are also those that show the looting of the houses in lost towns, the vandalization of their cemeteries and their churches.

In recent days, a video circulated online, showing an Armenian van with a children’s soccer team held at a makeshift Azerbaijani roadside post. After scrapping Nagorno-Karabakh’s flag from the bus door with a hunting knife, an armed soldier intimidated boys between the ages of fourteen and fifteen.

They belong to a generation that began adolescence with a war, the same as many of their parents during the 90’s.

Although there are no longer any big celebrations or fireworks, people still get married in Nagorno-Karabakh. From the notary of the Ministry of Justice, Liana Mirzoyan speaks of “record numbers” so far this year.

“In the period from November 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021, we have registered 1,072 compared to 282 same time last year. It is the highest figure to date,” said Mirzoyan.

A new generation is on its way.

By Anush Ghavalyan (Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh)