DOORS ARE LOCKED IN FRONTIER VILLAGES

A1+
07 April, 2008

There were about 300 pupils in the village of Voskepar, Tavush Marz,
in the mid-1980s. Today their number has reduced to 138. Over the
past years many dwellers of Voslepar have moved to the Russian town
Stari Oskol. Today residents jokingly name the town "New Voskepar."

As a result of emigration the villages of Koti and Barekamavan have
completely emptied. Forty-four children go to school in Barekamavan
while in 1970 the village had forty-seven first-formers. Over
193 pupils of Barekamavan today attend schools in the Russian
Federation. The village head, Hovik Gharakeshishian, says the village
has 33 students studying in Moscow.

They will hardly ever return to their motherland, he adds.

Although emigration has slowed down, it still continues.

"Kamut" TV Company, Noyemberian.