Fresno Armenians reflect on 1 year anniversary of attack on Artsakh
FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – It's been one year since the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Artsakh, or Nagorno Karabakh, at the hands of Azerbaijan.
This was after a more than nine-month-long blockade that cut nearly 120,000 people off from food, energy, and the outside world.
"Seeing the collapse of Artsakh gives sorrow to all the Armenians that not only enjoy the fun activity of being Armenian but also realize the true values of this nation," Fresno State's Armenian Student Organization President Harutyun Amirkhanyan said.
The Berberian Coordinator of Armenian Studies at Fresno State, Barlow Der Mugrdechian says that it is one of the oldest regions of Armenia.
"It's one of the oldest regions of Armenia. It's been continuously inhabited by Armenians for close to 3000 years. It had its own dialect, its own history and culture as part of the greater Armenian history. So the loss of that population is a huge blow to Armenians," Mugrdechian said.
Amirkhanyan is originally from Armenia and he knew people who fought for Artsakh.
"I felt disheartened. I have a lot of friends from Artsakh. They even took part in the war. I lost some friends in the war as well. People talk about equality and stuff, but nobody's that brave to prevent all these massacres taking place," Amirkhanyan said.
Mugrdechian says this is an issue that shouldn't only concern Armenians.
"I think it's important for non-Armenians as well. We need to know what's happening in the world, why certain things happen," Mugrdechian said.
The attacks against Armenians one year ago aren't only being remembered by local Armenians but also by officials.
Congressman Adam Schiff, who is also the vice chair of the congressional Armenian caucus, helped introduce the Artsakh Revenue Recovery Act of 2024. It's aimed at holding the government of Azerbaijan accountable for its unprovoked attack and to provide compensation to forcibly displaced Armenians.
"Azerbaijan's continued actions against the people of Artsakh have created a humanitarian disaster and amounted to ethnic cleansing," Schiff said. "We must ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that the innocent victims of Artsakh are compensated for their immense losses."
Students with the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State are set on what outcome they want to see – a return of Armenians to their historic lands.
"They left their homes there. They left their graves, their memories. I would expect the world to negotiate Azerbaijan, forcing them to allow Artsakh people to return and live in their motherland in peace," Amirkhanyan said.
On Friday, Sept. 20 at 12 p.m., the university's Armenian Student Organization will hold an Armenian Independence Day event at the free speech area. It will serve as a way for folks to listen to Armenian music and learn more about Armenian culture.
