Frontier village is becoming deserted
Vardan Gyulumyan, resident of frontier Getik village in Gegharkunik Marz, enumerates all deserted houses in the village and gives reasons behind the owners' departure.
"No one lives in this house. There was an elderly woman in that one, who locked the door and went to Yerevan to join her children. The owners of this big house died recently. This is my uncle's house who is an artisan but who is paying an artisan these days?" said Vardan Gyulumyan.
Out of the 128 households 46 are already empty," said village elder Ashot Dallakyan noting that villagers mostly abandon the settlement because of unemployment.
"Villagers' endeavours to receive money from the land are to no purpose. Villagers are mainly engaged in animal husbandry and farming. We sow only potato and wheat although we no longer receive the former crop yield," said the village headman.
According to Dallakyan, in 2009 they sold a kilo of potato for AMD 25. The low prices made the villagers quit cultivation. As a result, the village has neither potatoes, nor seeds.
Another problem the village faces today is the lack of potable water. In addition, many residents are unable to repay the loans taken from the state.
The constant shots heard on the border do not bother the villagers as much as the indifference of the authorities. According to them, while the Armenian authorities are busy clarifying personal affairs, Azerbaijan is effectively employing its propaganda machine.
"Every day, at 9:00 p.m., Azeri channel "ATV International" broadcasts news in Armenian. Recently, they showed Armenian top officials who are allegedly linked to the Thieves' World. President Serzh Sargsyan was among them although they said they could not say anything definite about Sargsyan," said villager Soghomon Dallakyan
Although the villagers do not blindly believe Azeri news, they are concerned that Armenia does not backfire to Azerbaijani allegations.
"Why should we sit silent?" he said.
