Artsvashen’s fall was due to its location, says village governor

Artsvashen’s geographic location is to blame for its crucial defeat in 1992, according to Mamikon Khechoyan the governor of the landlocked village.

According to him, the former residents of Artsvashen, who now reside in the Gegharkunik region, have not abandoned their birthplace.

“The dearest thing for a human being is the loss of a loved one. We have lost our motherland, Artsvashen, which was surrendered to Azerbaijan. Having left their village, the Artsvashen residents live in the Gegharkunik region today; they haven’t left our homeland,” he said.

Historian Yura Ghulyan, who is a native of Artsvashenm, said the village, with its big territory enjoyed a town’s status in the 1980s as it operated four plants.

“Artsvashen’s fall was the only loss of our victorious country and victorious army. With its history of 150 years, Artsvashen never lost its Armenian character; it never let an alien element in. Artsvashen’s loss is a pan-Armenian loss to be understood only by people who have lost a native land,” he said.

Artsvashen was surrended the Azerbaijani armed forces on August 8, 1992. According to the Regional Administration of Gegharkunik, 719 families were displaced from the village after its occupation .