SPECIAL PROJECT. SURVIVORS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE. MKHITAR TER-SEROBYAN ABOUT MASSACRES OF THE VILLAGE OF YERITSU

Aysor.am is launching the third series of project “Armenian Genocide:
Breaking the Silence.” Under the headline “Survivors” we will regularly
present the testimonies of survivors of the 1915 Armenian massacres
in the Ottoman Turkey.

Testimony of survivor Mkhitar Ter-Serobyan about deportations
and massacres of Armenians of the village of Yeritsu, Alashkert,
Karakilisa region, Bayazet province.

“The previous conditions in the village: After the all-European war,
the village of Yeritsu had 60 houses with Armenian residents. The
village had 1,000 sheep, 3,000 head of cattle, 200 ploughs, 3 mills,
two orchards with 600 trees. The village had a newly-built church –
Saint Hovhannes Church and priest Ter Mesrop Gasparyan (he died during
deportation). One of the villagers, Mkho Nhoeyan, had a wonderful
Gospel, and Ghukas Ter-Kirakosyan had an ancient handwritten Narek.

They took along those books when they left the village, but lost
them en route. The village school had 40 pupils and a teacher with
a budget of 15 Ottoman liras.

The current state of the village: The village is now completely ruined,
Russian soldiers live in it, all the houses were destroyed and all
firewood burned.

Draft: When Turkey started the draft, 30 men from Yeritsu village were
conscripted. 20 of them fled at the first opportunity, ten others
served in another army. Another nine men also fled, and nothing is
known about the fate of the remaining man – Misak Khlghatyan. As a
wartime tax, the government took 100 khalvars (30 poods) of wheat
and barley from our village, 4 khalvars of cracked wheat, 200 carts
of grass, 150 poods of oil, 300 pairs of shoes, socks, gloves, 200
blankets, think felt, 300 carts of seeds, 300 sheep, 250 head of
cattle, 1000 hens, and so on. Villagers in 30 carts and on120 oxen
were driven away to do labor. Turkish policemen seized those carts
and oxen in Dutagh.

In November 1914 the Russians entered Alashkert. Rich Turks and
military of Garakilisa came into Yeritsu village and then fled, taking
along the local residents’ carts and oxen. The Russians stayed in
the area for six weeks and then retreated in December 1914, together
with villagers. Some villagers – 40 men, 8 women, two children –
died en route to Etchmiadzin . Most of them froze to death.”

The project was prepared with the assistance of the Information and
Analytical Center of the Armenian Government Staff.

09.03.15, 10:00

Related news

Special Project. Survivors of Armenian Genocide. Aleksan Susyan’s
testimony on massacres in village of Molla Suleyman Special
Project. Survivors of Armenian Genocide. Grigor Sargsyan’s testimony
on massacres in Saghtun village Special Project. Survivors of Armenian
Genocide. Andranik Khcheyan’s evidence about massacres in Alashkert
region Special Project. Survivors of Armenian Genocide. Evidence of
Haykanush Hloyants about massacres in Khnus Special Project. Survivors
of Armenian Genocide. Misak Aghbalyan on deportation of Karin
population