In the wake of a swift military offensive by Azerbaijan, over 100,000 ethnic Armenians, including the Martirosyan family, were compelled to escape from the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, sparking a refugee crisis in Armenia. The sudden recapture of the territory by Azerbaijani forces led to the precipitous exodus of the Armenian populace, uprooting residents like 65-year-old Suren Martirosyan from their homes and livelihoods, including a treasured fruit garden.

The fall of the breakaway Karabakh republic is attributed by refugees, including Suren, to the failure of Russian peacekeepers and the Armenian government. The subsequent displacement of the entire Armenian population from the enclave has put a strain on Armenia, as families such as the Martirosyans grapple to recover from the trauma of displacement. The Martirosyan family, for instance, now resides in a rundown house provided by government aid in the village of Noyakert.

Despite reports of an impending peace agreement based on mutual territorial integrity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, many refugees harbor skepticism about the prospects of peace and coexistence. The deep-rooted ethnic tensions and animosity persist, with some refugees expressing distrust in the possibility of peaceful coexistence. The geopolitical reality has shifted with Azerbaijan in full control of Karabakh, yet many refugees, still haunted by the loss and trauma, long for a separate and secure homeland.

Samvel Shahramanyan, the separatist president of Karabakh, initially signed a decree stating the breakaway republic would cease to exist by year’s end. However, the retraction of this statement reflects an enduring desire for secession among many Karabakh refugees, even though the region is now under full Azerbaijani control. The resilience of these displaced Armenians, carrying the hope of reclaiming their land and keeping the hope for peace alive, reflects the human spirit’s tenacity amidst adversity.