Columnist Vorsobin spoke about life in Armenia after the Karabakh conflict.
Photo: REUTERS
“That’s it, Artsakh no longer exists (that’s what Nagorno-Karabakh is called in Armenia. – Author),” the Armenian said, looking past me, his face badly dented. He stood at the currency exchange counter and looked sadly at the Russians leaving the Moscow-Yerevan flight. It was not clear if he was a taxi driver. Or a mourner…
– Why not?! – I was stunned.
“After all, Artsakh was not firmly ours,” the little man sighed, not paying attention to what the Russian was saying. – People have been dying there for 30 years. 30 years… And that’s it… We are exhausted!
– Yeah, what’s all that?! – I exclaimed. I haven’t seen the news yet.
I met him right after passport control, which was deserted. There was an unusual silence at the airport; It seemed like people were talking a little more quietly than usual here. So they reflexively fall silent during a wake.
While looking for an ATM, as is customary in Armenia, I asked the first person I found: “How are you doing here?”
The people here are good. Warm. A public opinion poll can be conducted instantly… Last time I was here furiously claiming that the Armenian army was rearming. And that they will definitely win the next war with Azerbaijan…
And then… I will remember this moment!
It was at those moments that the message came: the Karabakh self-defense forces announced disarmament. It was at these moments that the history of Armenian Karabakh ended.
We are silent. A painful feeling of death. Something big.
Nearby, Armenians whisper that “the Azerbaijanis have opened the Lachin corridor,” but only as far as the exit from Karabakh. And now cars and trucks with the unfortunate residents of Artsakh are heading to Armenia.
They say that Russian peacekeepers help, save people…
But at the same time, there are people in Yerevan who blame Moscow for everything, not their Prime Minister Pashinyan. But are they really Russians?
“I don’t think it’s Russia’s fault,” the Armenian looks at me sadly, “30 years of torment. Who should be responsible for us?” And then… there will be no Russia, there will be no Armenia…
There are people in Yerevan who blame everything on Moscow, not their Prime Minister Pashinyan. But are they really Russians?
Photo: REUTERS
Nearby taxi drivers quickly began speaking in Armenian, proving something to my new acquaintance, who waved me off.
– I think so! – She told me with some defiance…
At the hotel they warned me that Yerevan is no longer safe.
“Today we left Artsakh,” said the young man at the reception with icy calm. – That’s why it’s better not to go downtown today. Its going to be hot.
