"The Eyewitness": 99-year old Mariam Sahakyan's family was forced to move to Syria from Sasoun
The Armenian Genocide initiated in the Ottoman Empire during the World War I in the beginning of the previous century is one of the biggest crimes against humanity. Advancing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the new project introduced by "Armenpress" news agency is dedicated to the story of the eyewitnesses and survivors of the calamity to prove the world one more time that our demand for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is fair and justified. This time the project is dedicated to the story of the oldest resident of the Aygavan village 99-year old Mariam Sahakyan.
AYGAVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. 99-year old Mariam Sahakyan spends the major part of her day in front of an ordinary house in Armenia’s Aygavan village. Mariam Sahakyan was born in 1915 in Syria, where her family was forced to move to from Sasoun.
For a moment she stopped following the games of her great grandchildren and responding our question stated: “I don’t remember almost anything. I was but a child.” This elderly woman doesn’t remember anything from the past. But her family members say that, perhaps, she does not want to remember anything, because there is so much pain in her memories.
The fact of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman government has been documented, recognized, and affirmed in the form of media and eyewitness reports, laws, resolutions, and statements by many states and international organizations. The complete catalogue of all documents categorizing the 1915 wholesale massacre of the Armenian population in Ottoman Empire as a premeditated and thoroughly executed act of genocide, is extensive. Uruguay was the first country to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1965. The massacres of the Armenian people were officially condemned and recognized as genocide in accordance with the international law by France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus, Lebanon, Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Canada, Vatican and Australia.
Article by Tatevik Grigoryan
Photos by Arevik Grigoryan
- “Witness” Aregnaz Grigoryan survived from being burnt in barn by cost of uncle’s life
100 year old Aregnaz Grigoryan passed her life’s happy and sad years ashore Aras River, in Bagaran village, bordering Turkey. - "The Eyewitness": 102-year-old Armenian Genocide survivor doesn’t want to leave
homeland
Margarita Chlingaryan was born in 1913. - "The Eyewitness": Turk has no soul, 103-year old Armenian Genocide survivor claims
Lusik’s 5-year old sister couldn't survive hunger and thirst any longer and died. - "The Eyewitness": Unfulfilled desire of seeing Igdir again
The eyewitness of the crime, unfortunately, passed away on 23 March of this year, a month before the hundredth anniversary. - "The Eyewitness": Armenian Genocide survivor hopes to see his birthplace again
The oldest resident of the village is 103-year-old Knyaz Shirinyan. He was born in Zrchi village of Alashkert.