83-year-old Rafael Hayiryan, forcibly displaced from the occupied Republic of Artsakh, has health problems. He was transported from Artsakh to Armenia lying on the floor of the car. He wanted to tell his story in the framework of “Artsakh: Armenian Genocide 2023. Stories of Survivors” documentary project of Iravaban.net.
Rafael Hayiryan said that he spent the days of the blockade under psychological stress. He was lying motionless.
“Ee recieved information that the people should leave without resistance. They massacred those whom they could, and those who could ran away. Even my brother’s child, who was in the positions, didn’t take his passport, driver’s license, or military card. He left everything there. They got out somehow. He put us in his father’s car and brought us here,” our interlocutor said.
Mr. Rafael remembers that while crossing the Hakari bridge, Azerbaijanis stopped their car and checked it.
“Previously they made a statement that we have no right to even take a knife to cut bread. There was nothing to take from us in the car. They came and opened the door, I was lying on the floor. We spent three nights on way,” he said.
According to Rafael Hayiryan, Azerbaijan’s actions were inhumane.
“A human being would not do such a thing, he would not slaughter a child, he would not kill a woman, he would not rape, he would not behead, and he would not mutilate, but the Turk can do all these. I do not where the superpowers of this world are looking. Aliyev massacres us, goes to high courts and says: my door is open for Armenians, everyone can come. And they believe there. Armenians were slaughtered again in the presence of European Union observers, but Europe did nothing. Even after that, Aliyev went to speak from high courts and everyone believes him that the Armenian is guilty. What is Armenian’s fault?” he said.
According to our interlocutor, he is the 5th generation of his nation. “Now imagine, since when has that territory belonged to the Armenians, but the Turk says thanks to his money that it is theirs.”
Mr. Raphael says that the people of Artsakh were being “scratched with a blunt knife” for 2.5 years.
“There was no workplace, no mine, and no factory, nothing in Artsakh. See how strong the people of Artsakh are, that they endured it for 2 years. Now we have endured so much, we are completely naked. The condition of the people has become unspeakably worse. Within a few hours, we had 100 victims and 200 wounded, and there is no news to see who is responsible or who is being called to account. Artsakh native fought naked in 1988, won and liberated 7 districts. I once said there that the Armenian nation has never had such success in its history, if the Armenian nation could not maintain this success this time, then this is the end of the nation,” he said.
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“Artsakh: Armenian Genocide 2023. Stories of Survivors” documentary project of Iravaban.net is aimed at collecting the memories and testimonies of citizens forcibly displaced from Artsakh occupied by Azerbaijan, about the genocide of the Armenians of Artsakh committed by Azerbaijan, atrocities, the days of war, the path of deportation, etc.
Iravaban.net seeks help from citizens who will voluntarily agree to translate materials into different languages: Russian, English, French, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Georgian, Chinese…
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Details in the video.
Armenian Lawyers’ Association is the author of the idea “Artsakh: Armenian Genocide 2023. Stories of Survivors” documentary project of Iravaban.net and is the owner of copyright of the materials created within the framework of the project. In case of using the materials produced within the framework of the project, it is necessary to obtain the written permission of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association.
Hasmik Sargsyan
