Lachin: The Emptying Lands
Ditsmayri, Kashatagh Region, Armenian-controlled Republic of Azerbaijan — Republic of Nagorno Karabakh © Onnik Krikorian / IWPR
Following on from my recent return visit to Lachin, the strategic main artery connecting Armenia to Nagorno Karabakh, and an article for Eurasianet on depopulation in the disputed Kashatagh region, the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) has published another. Again, it’s on attempts to populate the region with Armenian settlers and the recent exodus of those that did move to the territory with the promise of new homes, land, livestock and social benefits.
The local residents of Suarassy seem oblivious to the hidden danger as they herd cattle down a road known to have been mined during the Armenian-Azerbaijani war of the early Nineties. Despite the mangled military lorry rusting in a ditch to one side, none of their cows have so far detonated seven anti-tank mines still believed to be buried underneath, so they reckon the road is safe.
Less than a metre away is forest and grazing land laden with at least 900 anti-personnel landmines. Yura Sharamanian, operations officer for the HALO Trust, compares the minefield to Cambodia and says that the British de-mining charity considers Lachin to be the most mine-infested region in Karabakh and surrounding regions, which were fought over during the 1991-4 war.
Although considered by the international community to be occupied Azerbaijani land, this territory is now marked on Armenian maps as Kashatagh. Also including the formerly Azerbaijani regions of Kubatly and Zangelan as well as Lachin itself, Kashatagh stretches down to the Iranian border in the south.
This strip of land between Armenia and Karabakh is one of the key points in dispute in the unresolved Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. And it is also home to a few thousand hardy Armenian settlers who have moved here since the 1994 ceasefire.
However, it is not just the danger of landmines that threatens the existence of new settlements in the Kashatagh region. Although a 2005 census put the official population of Kashatagh at 9,800 Armenians, with 2,200 residing in the town of Lachin, the actual figure is now believed to be around fifty per cent less.
The full article accompanied by photographs is here. The article is one of three from an IWPR special on Karabakh. The other two are here and here. Some of my photographs from Lachin and Kashatagh 2000-03 can be found online here.
Dear Fellow Armenians,
Recently, a series of investigative news reports have appeared in various Armenian media outlets that highlight the worsening socio-economic conditions in the Kashatagh region (formerly known as Lachin), the vital lifeline connecting the Mountainous Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh to the Republic of Armenia. As a result, Armenians are fleeing the region in increasing numbers for a better life in Armenia, Russia and beyond. It would appear that those officials responsible for the region are either unwilling or incapable of ameliorating the conditions for those Armenians who remain.
In 1994, when a cease-fire was declared in the Karabakh war, a policy of repopulating the region was initiated. The authorities involved appealed to Armenians, whether refugees from Baku or citizens of Yerevan, to come to the newly liberated lands, to build homes, to raise families. They were encouraged to do so with promises of support and assistance. Many Armenians heeded the call and went.
But today, many of those who moved to Kashatagh are leaving. Most complain that ten years later life is getting harder not easier. Many say that they are being neglected by the same people who encouraged them to settle in Kashatagh in the first place. A feeling of betrayal and isolation is now widespread among those Armenians who remain.
Just read what Artsakh Bunyatyan, Chief Physician of the Berdzor Hospital and Karabakh war veteran has to say on the subject:
“What is it like for someone living in Kashatagh? He’s cast off from everything…no news, no radio, no TV, no decent socio-economic conditions, living in shacks in the kingdom of ruins. These people came to rebuild the wrecks but the government reduced their mentality to ruin. And they feel swindled - the promises that were made have not been kept.”
The reality of what is happening in Kashatagh is slowly getting out. We in the Diaspora who are concerned with this troubling news can no longer remain silent for we too share some responsibility in the matter. Yes we have sent aid and support to Artsakh, and we should continue to do so. But highways and hotels alone are of little comfort to a family with inadequate housing, medical care they can ill afford and, most importantly, a belief that their fellow Armenians no longer care about their plight. Further assistance without accountability can no longer be tolerated.
Thus, we urge you to sign this petition!!!
By doing so, you will be sending a message to the Armenians in Kashatagh that we will not abandon them in their hour of need. You will also be sending a powerful message to those responsible for this tragedy that concerned Armenians will no longer tolerate “business as usual”.
Thank you,
Coalition In Support Of Kashatagh
www.kashatagh.com
e-mail: info@kashatagh.com
Comment by Kashatagh Coalition — September 29, 2006 @ 2:08 am
You have my support. I’ll try to bring up the issue at the Church as well as the committee I belong to. Hopefully some pressure/aid can be mustered. I’ll add a link on my website as well.
Comment by Esoteric — September 29, 2006 @ 3:25 am
Hmmm, the Kashatagh Coalition used two of my photos without asking. Then again, at least they credited their use so I can’t grumble. Anyway, the photographs come from a b/w gallery of images 2000-2003 from Lachin at the following URL if you want to see more:
http://www.oneworld.am/photojournalism/berdzor/lachin_0001.html
Comment by Onnik — September 29, 2006 @ 9:43 am
LACHIN RESIDENTS ARE IN A PANIC
28 September, 2006
Today Armen Eghyan, Gevorg Mirzoyan and Gagik Petrosyan, members of the initiating group «Protection of the Occupied Territories», announced that Hamlet Khachatryan, head of the Kashatagh administration hinders the resettlement of the territories and must resign from his post.
«It turns out that this high-rank official is used to bribe taking and hasn’t got the slightest notion of his post. He realises neither its meaning nor its military significance», claims Armen Eghyan and adds, «He treats the local residents as criminals caught red-handed. He demands bribes from all the citizens who turn to him with any request. And in case any of the citizens dares to complain of Mr. Mirzoyan, he merely advises them to leave Kashatagh».
Jirayr Sefilyan, commander of special regiment of Shoushi, and a member of the above-mentioned group, informed the participants of today’s press conference about the current state of Kashatagh. He claims that the number of inhabitants has significantly decreased in the past two years reaching 7.5 thousand.
52 villages of Katashagh are deprived of electricity and water. The roads are in an awful state. The villages counter certain problems connected with education, health care and realization of agricultural goods. Recently, the authorities of Katashagh have fined a 12-year-old girl for picking up wood to heat their hearth.
Mr.Sefilyan maintains that administrative obstacles and fining bodies have greatly increased in Kashatagh. As a result of this, residents began to abandon the territory and the villages became deserted. All is done on purpose, claim the members of the group.
http://www.a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=41408
Comment by Onnik — September 29, 2006 @ 9:46 am
Or actually, maybe they did ask permission so scratch that. Can’t remember offhand, though. Still, they credited which is more than ArmenPress did.
Comment by Onnik — September 29, 2006 @ 11:00 am
Esoteric, “Crazy Onnik’s Journalism Emporium…” :’(
http://esot3r1c.blogspot.com/
;-)
Comment by Onnik — September 29, 2006 @ 11:33 am
Ob-jection! Taken out of context! ;P
Comment by Esoteric — September 29, 2006 @ 1:41 pm