Azerbaijan],” explains Irkoian. “Many now feel safer in Armenia,
AZERBAIJAN
Lake Sevan
and like a million other Armenians, some have left for Russia.”
Not surprising, perhaps. What Irkoian, his wife and two young daughters have come to is a simple, virtually unfurnished
ARMENIA
shack. Chickens run free in the yard outside while a hole in
NAGORNO KARABAGH
the ground serves as the toilet for the entire family. Cooking is on a simple electric stove that just about manages to boil
Lachin
oriental coffee in 15 minutes and water collects every morning in the makeshift sink assembled outside.
An old, dilapidated television barely picks up Russian
NAKHICHEVAN
television, and Armenian TV broadcast from Yerevan is even worse. Homes like these are among the poorest to be found
IRAN
anywhere in the Caucasus and while life may be difficult throughout the region, things are even tougher in Lachin. Still, Irkoian does have a good job now, working as the chief
Territories outside of Nagorno Karabagh under Armenian control
education specialist for the local department of education, youth affairs, and sports.
New Arrivals The flag of the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh
30
Zoric Irkoian, for one, is not a refugee. Arriving six years ago
flies over his offices, a municipal building serving as the
from Yerevan, he openly admits that most of those inhabiting
administrative center for most of the territory sandwiched
the disputed territory are from Armenia and that few refugees
between Armenia and Karabagh. Stretching from Lachin to the
have joined the resettlement program. “Not many came because
Iranian border, what has become known as the occupied
they were used to their life in Baku and Sumgait [in
territories in international circles is marked on Armenian maps