Ilona Sargsyan was forcibly displaced from the occupied Stepanakert city of Artsakh Republic. She told about this in the framework of “Artsakh: Armenian Genocide 2023. Stories of Survivors” documentary project.
“On 19 September, when Azerbaijan unleashed an attack on Artsakh, I was at work. I read on Facebook that mining works will be carried out; there will be explosions, so that we do not get afraid. I was returning home from work when I heard the first explosion, and at that time I said that there will be no war. After hearing the second and third explosions, I saw that people were running to the church, and in that panic, I ran to the church with them as well: everyone was in a terrible condition.”
Ilona recalled that she did not have any information about her family’s whereabouts at that difficult moment. “I was lying at the gates of the church and covering my ears was talking to God and asking that all this be a dream and that the war does not start again, because I knew the consequences. If we lost most of Artsakh in the previous war, now we would lose Artsakh completely.”
She noted that there were many problems during the siege.
“Food supplies were running out. The resources of the people could not be enough for months. Transport had stopped working; people were left without work because of that. During the constant power outages, we thought that a more critical situation would arise in the winter. Actually, Artsakh was fighting alone.”
Our interlocutor told that even in that difficult situation, they felt safe in their home in Artsakh, and they will not find that feeling of security anywhere else in the world.
Referring to the reintegration of Artsakh residents into Azerbaijan, Ilona said that she would never live with Azerbaijanis side by side.
“It is impossible to live with an Azerbaijani who hates Armenians, strives to see no Armenian and has created a situation for you to leave your homeland.”
Ilona remembers the migration path with excitement.
“When we were on our way to the Hakari bridge, I said: will you wait a little while I go home?” I ran home, looked and didn’t know what I was feeling at that moment. I just kissed the walls and stood for a minute, I apologized to our house for leaving it alone. I felt that from that moment I lost both myself and my homeland.”
————————
Iravaban.net seeks help from citizens who will voluntarily agree to translate materials into different languages: Russian, English, French, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Georgian, Chinese…
You can write to our e-mail address at: [email protected]
To donate for realization of the project: https://iravaban.net/en/become-a-supporter
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.
Details in the video.
Mariam Antonyan
