Anush Zakaryan
The big family of the "church-shelter", the "boom-boom" UAV, loss, displacement, waiting for the homecoming
When the 2020 war breaks out in Artsakh, residents of 72 Ghazanchetsots Street in Shushi consider the Ghazanchetsots Church safer than their apartments. The inhabitants of the building in front of the church found shelter there, spending their days, in their opinion, in anticipation of the imminent end of the war.
A resident of the building Anush Zakaryan, remembers that the church had become a home, they played the organ, sang liturgical songs, and prayed for the healthy return of those who had gone to war.
A resident of the building Anush Zakaryan, remembers that the church had become a home, they played the organ, sang liturgical songs, and prayed for the healthy return of those who had gone to war.
CHAPTER 1
Church-shelter
The Ghazanchetsots church in Shushi served as a refuge for residents of nearby residential buildings during the war. Anush Zakaryan also speaks about this in the video she shot. The video shows that dozens of people are in the shelter, and some of them are in the church yard.
In the second part of the video, a representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Artsakh calls on the residents gathered in the courtyard to enter the church in order to avoid danger.
In the second part of the video, a representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Artsakh calls on the residents gathered in the courtyard to enter the church in order to avoid danger.
Anush Zakaryan's voice is heard in the first part of the footage
Anush Zakaryan says that in those days, leaving the church, they went home only to cook and return. Despite the war, along with the residents there were also children who got to know each other and formed a children's community at the church.
Little Mane, Anush's niece, is also present during our conversation. Anush says that the children stayed with them in Shushi for a long time and saw the war with their own eyes.
Little Mane, Anush's niece, is also present during our conversation. Anush says that the children stayed with them in Shushi for a long time and saw the war with their own eyes.
"In Artsakh, my soul did stay
Half my heart, now far away
Death may come, but let it be
Shushi's return, what I long to see."
Half my heart, now far away
Death may come, but let it be
Shushi's return, what I long to see."
“There was a memorable episode, we left the entrance and there was an UAV right above our heads, we were expecting ours to hit that UAV. Little Mane was also with us, and she was like – look over there, the "boom-boom" is back!
Right above our heads, ours shot down that UAV, there were loud sounds, she tensed up from these noises. We told her it's fireworks, it's New Year's Day. Mane was like – It's my birthday? Until today she asks why we don't order a “boom-boom” for her birthday” remembered Anush.
Mane listens to our conversation and smiles. The aunt continues to tell that every time she goes to Artsakh, Mane orders her to enter the house, the garage and bring this toy, that cloth, etc.
Right above our heads, ours shot down that UAV, there were loud sounds, she tensed up from these noises. We told her it's fireworks, it's New Year's Day. Mane was like – It's my birthday? Until today she asks why we don't order a “boom-boom” for her birthday” remembered Anush.
Mane listens to our conversation and smiles. The aunt continues to tell that every time she goes to Artsakh, Mane orders her to enter the house, the garage and bring this toy, that cloth, etc.
CHAPTER 2
A helping hand in war
Anush Zakaryan is a pianist by profession. Before the war, she worked at an art school in Shushi, in addition, taught national song and dance at the school named after Khachatur Abovyan in Shushi.
During the war, all this stopped. A "peacetime teacher" begins to distribute aid, helping those in need.
“In Stepanakert, we went to a nursing home, an orphanage, there were many children and pregnant women in the shelter, we visited them and helped as much as we could. During that period, Armenians became united, we could not even imagine that one day we could lose Sushi,” Anush tells.
She tells that in a single day she lost two brothers in Stepanakert. The strikes targeting the city were so intense that they had 20 minutes for final farewell. They did the funeral in an expeditious manner and left. After the funeral, they still had to reach Shushi.
And although it was calmer in the city, the way to get there was constantly targeted by Azerbaijanis.
During the war, all this stopped. A "peacetime teacher" begins to distribute aid, helping those in need.
“In Stepanakert, we went to a nursing home, an orphanage, there were many children and pregnant women in the shelter, we visited them and helped as much as we could. During that period, Armenians became united, we could not even imagine that one day we could lose Sushi,” Anush tells.
She tells that in a single day she lost two brothers in Stepanakert. The strikes targeting the city were so intense that they had 20 minutes for final farewell. They did the funeral in an expeditious manner and left. After the funeral, they still had to reach Shushi.
And although it was calmer in the city, the way to get there was constantly targeted by Azerbaijanis.
The situation in Shushi became tense when the Azerbaijanis deliberately targeted the Holy Savior Church of Ghazanchetsots with precision weapons two times.
"We understood that there were no moral boundaries for the enemy. They were probably informed that the civilian population had found shelter in the church. With the first blows in the church we realized that everything is quite serious," remembered Anush.
"We understood that there were no moral boundaries for the enemy. They were probably informed that the civilian population had found shelter in the church. With the first blows in the church we realized that everything is quite serious," remembered Anush.
Anush Zakaryan's father, Vova Zakaryan, in front of their damaged building
At that period a residential building next to the church, where the Zakarian family lived was also targeted. Anush leaves Shushi on October 27, so as not to cause unnecessary anxiety to his father, a participant in the Artsakh War in 90s.
Anush leaves the house without preparation, suddenly. As to her after losing relatives, the question of what to take becomes secondary and unimportant. Looking back, Anush thinks that memories could have been taken. Now they remain only in her thoughts.
Anush leaves the house without preparation, suddenly. As to her after losing relatives, the question of what to take becomes secondary and unimportant. Looking back, Anush thinks that memories could have been taken. Now they remain only in her thoughts.
She still cannot come to terms with the fact that she does not live in Shushi. Waking up at night, she does not understand where she is, why she is not at home.
Anush Zakaryan and her family now live in Yerevan, but Anush keeps her ties to Artsakh. She works at an art school and continues to teach national song and dance.
CHAPTER 3
Azerbaijanization of Shushi
In fact, the home and garage that little Manet imagined are no longer there. After the war, Azerbaijanis started to demolish everything Armenian in Shushi (and other places): churches, historical and cultural structures, even residential buildings.
From the chronological point of view, the residential building at Ghazanchetsots 72, where the heroes of our story lived, was one of the first in this list.
From the chronological point of view, the residential building at Ghazanchetsots 72, where the heroes of our story lived, was one of the first in this list.
As the satellite photos show, the residential building of the heroes of the story was first destroyed by the Azerbaijanis after the war.
In the upper small rectangle is the building located at Ghazanchetsots 72. The Ghazanchetsots church can also be seen in its vicinity, the dome of which is damaged, but is still there.
Further to the left, you can see 4 buildings, which are the residential buildings at Proshyan 1, 3, 5, 7. They are still visible in this satellite photo from February 2021.
In the upper small rectangle is the building located at Ghazanchetsots 72. The Ghazanchetsots church can also be seen in its vicinity, the dome of which is damaged, but is still there.
Further to the left, you can see 4 buildings, which are the residential buildings at Proshyan 1, 3, 5, 7. They are still visible in this satellite photo from February 2021.
Satellite image from August 2021 shows that the building located at Ghazanchetsots 72 was razed to the ground.
Below and to the left, the demolition of 4 residential buildings along Proshyan Street is also visible. In place of one of them, the foundations of a new octagonal building are visible.
Below and to the left, the demolition of 4 residential buildings along Proshyan Street is also visible. In place of one of them, the foundations of a new octagonal building are visible.
Google Earth releases satellite images every few months. Thus, they cannot clearly state when and what is happening.
Instead, images of the Copernicus Sentinel satellites confirm that the demolition of the buildings on Proshyan Street in Sushi was carried out mainly in April 2021.
Instead, images of the Copernicus Sentinel satellites confirm that the demolition of the buildings on Proshyan Street in Sushi was carried out mainly in April 2021.
The videos posted by Azerbaijanis on social networks also show the demolition process of these buildings.
Moreover, the study of other published videos allows us to conclude that the Azerbaijanis plan to build a mosque on that location, the octagonal foundation of which has already been laid on the site of one of the demolished buildings.
Moreover, the study of other published videos allows us to conclude that the Azerbaijanis plan to build a mosque on that location, the octagonal foundation of which has already been laid on the site of one of the demolished buildings.
The sign posted at the entrance to the construction site also confirms that a mosque with the name "New Mosque of Shushi" is being built on the site of the demolished buildings.
The imagery from Copernicus Sentinel satellites mentioned above also show in detail the demolition of the building at Ghazanchetsots 72.
As of April 8, 2021, the building is complete (although it was damaged during the war as a result of Azerbaijani strikes).
On April 18, 2021, it can be seen that the Azerbaijanis have already demolished the southwestern part of the building.
15 days later, on May 3, the building no longer exists. In the final phase the northeastern part of the building, where the heroes of the story lived, was demolished.
As of April 8, 2021, the building is complete (although it was damaged during the war as a result of Azerbaijani strikes).
On April 18, 2021, it can be seen that the Azerbaijanis have already demolished the southwestern part of the building.
15 days later, on May 3, the building no longer exists. In the final phase the northeastern part of the building, where the heroes of the story lived, was demolished.
According to the administration of the Shushi region, before the war, 5,300 people permanently lived in the city. And the permanent population of the Shushi region itself was 6500.
According to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Artsakh, a total number of residents of Shushi moved to the regions of Armenia and Yerevan is 1,141 of which 220 settled to different regions of Armenia. Another 173 residents moved to Armenia from other settlements of the Shushi region.
According to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Artsakh, a total number of residents of Shushi moved to the regions of Armenia and Yerevan is 1,141 of which 220 settled to different regions of Armenia. Another 173 residents moved to Armenia from other settlements of the Shushi region.
Most of the residents of Shushi moved to Stepanakert after the war
The bigger the point, the more people from Shush live in that settlement.
After the war, the majority of people from Shushi returned to Artsakh and settled in territories that remained under Armenian control, especially in Stepanakert. According to the data of the Shushi region administration, 3896 people of Shushi live in Stepanakert.
Another 262 former residents of Shushi now live in the rest of the cities and villages of Artsakh.
There is no information about the resettlement of people from Shushi to Yerevan. However, it is known that more than 35,000 residents of Artsakh moved to Yerevan after the war.
Among the regions of Armenia, Ararat received the most residents of Shushi – 120 people. At the same time there are regions where no people from Shushi were resettled.
Among the regions of Artsakh (not including Stepanakert), Askeran received the most residents of Shushi - more than 140 people, and Martakert and Noragyugh - 27 people each.
Find interactive version of the map here.
Another 262 former residents of Shushi now live in the rest of the cities and villages of Artsakh.
There is no information about the resettlement of people from Shushi to Yerevan. However, it is known that more than 35,000 residents of Artsakh moved to Yerevan after the war.
Among the regions of Armenia, Ararat received the most residents of Shushi – 120 people. At the same time there are regions where no people from Shushi were resettled.
Among the regions of Artsakh (not including Stepanakert), Askeran received the most residents of Shushi - more than 140 people, and Martakert and Noragyugh - 27 people each.
Find interactive version of the map here.
Demolished address of Shushi
The war unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020 actually stopped with the fall of Shushi.
Having captured Shushi, the Azerbaijanis set out to destroy the Armenian heritage of the city, both by forgery and physically.
The building, located at 72 Ghazanchetsot Street, right in front of the church, was one of the buildings destroyed by the Azerbaijanis. The former residents of the building present the Shushi they know through their stories.
You can see other stories of the project below:
Home in Shushi, Children of the Church, “Car counting” game, War and Homecoming to Artsakh
Service in Ghazanchetsots, service in the war and on the front line, service in Stepanakert Cathedral
Passing by Shushi and not entering the home, the desire and impossibility to get back
Garik Harutyunyan, Narek Martirosyan and Hayk Khachikyan are the authors of the project.
