Spotlight Artsakh

What museum artifacts and historical-cultural treasures remain in Artsakh? Have they been preserved, or have they been vandalized? Are there efforts to transfer them to Armenia? Lilit Avagyan provides insight.

Azerbaijan’s systematic destruction of Artsakh's cultural heritage not only erases the unique collective identity of its people but also deals a significant blow to the entire world, destabilizing present and future prospects for peace and security in the South Caucasus.

For the people of Artsakh, the year since their displacement has been marked by the emotional turmoil and darkness of loss. Photojournalist Ani Gevorgyan documents their ongoing struggle to cope with the grief while trying to provide for their families and rebuild their lives.

“Crossing the bridge with no return, is indeed final. Artsakh is behind you, and you are here, in safety but with a thousand internal mines that will explode sooner or later,” writes Tamara Grigoryan, reflecting on her experiences a year after the ethnic cleansing of the Armenians of Artsakh.

After being forcibly displaced by Azerbaijan, a group of men from Artsakh transformed the interior of a dilapidated hospital in the Ararat region of Armenia and built eight separate apartments for their families. A photo story by Ani Gevorgyan.

The families forcibly displaced from Artsakh will long remember the lack of bread during the months of blockade. That bread, often moist and bitter, has become a symbol of their struggles, deprivation, courage and strength. Photojournalist Ani Gevorgyan captures the images and feelings.

“The story of the house began with a smile and ended with tears,” writes Yan Shenkman, a Russian journalist, who moved to Armenia after the war in Ukraine started. He compiled monologues from the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh for an upcoming exhibition about the homes they lost.

During the ten-month blockade of Artsakh, hundreds of pregnant women endured fear and deprivation instead of experiencing the joy of approaching motherhood. Photojournalist Ani Gevorgyan chronicles their challenges.

In September, two families-in-law from Artsakh found refuge in the village of Yeghvard, Armenia, joining over 100,000 displaced Armenians facing similar challenges. Marut Vanyan, a journalist from Artsakh, provides insight into their experiences.

Irina Merdinyan traveled into the heart of a tragedy to help the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh. In the midst of that experience, she was confronted with pain, confusion, anger and fleeting moments of joy.