Villagers refuse to cultivate their lands
"We carry all the bitterness and burden of the land while people who do nothing enjoy its fruits," Lorik Apresyan, a resident of frontier Vahan village, told A1+.
Sixteen villagers were killed in the Artsakh war. Lorik's son and husband were among the victims. Today, their photos are hanging on the walls of the rundown house.
"Nobody cares for us. The roof of the house will soon fall on our heads. All our letters and applications are ignored. I have decided to go to Yerevan, to the Ministry," says Mrs. Lorik.
The family today lives on her pension and family benefit of AMD 30 000.
Several months ago, Czech organization "People in Need" gave pets to the most vulnerable families in the villages of Vahan, Ttujur, Getik and Martuni.
Mrs. Lorik's family was not included in the list.
"The family has two cows and we aimed to help poorer families," said Tigran Hovhannisyan, a representative of the Czech organization.
Village headman Gurgen Balayan says villagers refuse to cultivate their lands.
"I receive applications every day but I do not accept them as I hope the situation will improve and people needn't part with their lands. Besides, villagers should first settle their debts."
According to Mr. Balayan, the land tax already amounts to AMD 5 458 000 as villagers cannot pay the annual tax of AMD 5000.
A nursery has been opened in the village recently with the financial support of CHF and Shen charity organizations.
According to the village headman, the number of residents is increasing despite the miserable living conditions. The village had 17 births in 2009. Two families settled in Vahan in 2010.
The village has 427 households and 1228 residents. About 175 children attend the local school. The village is about three kilometers away from the border.
