AZG Armenian Daily #084, 11/05/2005
Karabakh diary
9 MAY 1992: SHUSHI LIBERATED
These days 13 years ago Armenian tricolor was already fluttering from above
Shushi fortress. Defense of the town was broken from north and east on May
8. After street fights, the Armenian forces took under control the center of
Shushi in the evening. On May 9 Shushi was liberated from Azeri occupation.
57 Armenians gave their lives for the town’s liberation. Azeris’ tolls were
much heavier: 200 killed.
It has been 13 years already that Armenians worldwide celebrate the great
victory. These days 5 years ago, Father Gevorg from Surp Khazanchetzotz
church was telling, “We must populate and make Shushi prosper, otherwise our
struggle and victories render meaningless. We paid the highest price, the
blood of our young people, for Shushi”.
Unfortunately, the town is still mostly ruined today. Residents of the
gloomy and sad town, counting several thousands, drab miserable existence.
Most of them lost their homes in Baku and Kirovabad. May 9, Day of Shushi
liberation, is the only day in the year that breathes life into the town.
This is the day when the town becomes unnaturally populous: officials and
guests from Armenia and Diaspora come to the town to put candles in the
church. Indifference and misery prevails all other days of the year.
May 9, which is painted red in our calendars, is a day of great celebration
indeed but it is very slow to enter the lives of ordinary residents.
By Tatoul Hakobian