Unforgotten tortures
Out of those who were held captive during the Great Patriotic War, only 23 currently live in Armenia.
"I wasn't even five years old when I was held captive with my parents. I have read about what happened in the books, but it is hard to describe the fear that a child feels," said Nelly Shimshiryan during a teleconference organized by the "Novosti-Armeni" international information agency today.
April 11 is the International Day of the Liberation of Slaves of the Fascist Concentration Camp. On that occasion, a Moscow-Astana-Kishnev-Kiev-Yerevan teleconference was organized to let the survivors talk about the horrors of war.
Among the guests were those who had been held captive during WWII who shared their stories.
Former captives representing Armenia were Nelly Shimshiryan and Nina Hakobyan. Nina Hakobyan was held captive with her parents in 1943 and went through many trials and tribulations. "We didn't have a childhood. I wish that my children and grandchildren live with love and in peace."
All of their stories ended with the same call of "We are against all kinds of war". They would like to have the new generation know the history so that the mistakes of the past are never repeated again.
