45-year-old Lusine Harutyunyan was born in Noragyugh community of Askeran region, NK. In 2001, she married Garik from Stepanakert, had 3 daughters. Until the 44-Day War, her husband was a contract soldier in one of the military units of Stepanakert.
“Before the 44-Day War, due to health problems, we were in Yerevan with my husband, and on September 25, on our way back to Artsakh, we noticed unusual movement in an uninhabited place. Then my nephews, who were soldiers, informed me that there was a sabotage. On September 26, my husband took up combat positions and the next day the war began. My little daughter was diagnosed with thrombocytopenia, she was bleeding and had to take medication regularly. When we couldn’t find the necessary medicine in the pharmacies on the day of the war, I was very afraid for my child. Therefore, we decided to move to Yerevan with my husband’s brother’s family so that my daughter would not have health problems. We reached Yerevan with many difficulties, but on October 3, we learned the news of my husband’s death… The situation was so bad that they did not let me return and attend my husband’s funeral. He was buried in the Stepanakert fraternal cemetery. My husband was killed on October 3, and my brother’s two sons were killed on October 7 and 27. October is a black month for us,” the widow said.
On February 25, Lusine returned to Stepanakert and started to tidy up the apartment damaged by shelling. She had to overcome her fears and continue living with her three daughters in her home. With the support of the Artsakh government, they renovated their house, not imagining that one day they will leave everything and be forced to relocate from Artsakh.
“Relying on ourselves, we continued to live until the complete blockade of 2023. I started saving in everything, so that I don’t have a problem when the hard days come. The days of the siege were hard. In the presence of the introduced coupon system, it was often not possible to purchase basic necessities. Until the last day, we did not believe that we would leave Artsakh. After the war, I had sold my husband’s car and bought a small one so that I could drive it. During the blockade, they gave gasoline with a coupon and I kept it so that, God forbid, something happens, I don’t have a problem with fuel,” my interlocutor recalled.
The friends of the village helped the widow with food, and saving everything, she also distributed it to the needy.
“On September 19, I seemed to have a premonition not to send my children to school. Many may not believe, but until now I see my husband in my dreams and we are always in touch. On September 17, he told me in my dream that we will leave Artsakh. I had no idea where we were going, but I had seen the Hakari bridge [in my dream] and that we would cross with my children unharmed. I did not send the children to school that day and we decided to go to Noragyugh. On the way, I noticed a strange commotion and I still had no idea that a resumption of war was possible in the presence of Russian peacekeepers. When approaching the village, the shelling suddenly started. I didn’t know what to do out of fear. I could not contact my relatives. I turned the car around and quickly went to Ivanyan, my brother’s house. After some time, I decided to return to Stepanakert no matter what, to at least take my documents and feed our parrot,” Lusine said, reliving those cruel days.
They were in a difficult situation: cellars, uncertainty, panic. It was dangerous to stay in Lusineents district and they moved to their friend’s apartment. But in the afternoons, she was able to bring food from home and also give a portion to the displaced persons from Martakert who took refuge in the nearby school during those days.
“September 24 was the last day. Rumors were circulating that 30,000 Artsakh residents would have to leave and if we don’t manage to leave, we will stay with the Azerbaijanis. And, driving our car behind my brother’s car, I passed the road of hell. I was so scared; we had to pass by the enemy with four girls. Thank God, we successfully crossed the Hakari bridge. It was rainy weather, my daughters had fever… I lost my brother in traffic jams, and I didn’t know the way. I asked a random driver to direct me to Goris,” the widow added.
Now Lusine lives with her girls in Charentsavan, Armenia. It is very difficult to adapt to reality, and as a result of stress, our interlocutor was ill for two months and recovered with difficulty. Among the existing problems, she singles out the housing issue. They live on rent and the girls go to school in Yerevan every morning at 6 a.m. Lusine never loses the hope of returning to Artsakh.
Zara Mayilyan