"It's been 20 days; I haven't seen my one-and-a-half-year-old son Mark. My absence is hard to bear; it is restless. Although the grandparents and my wife do everything to keep the child occupied, Mark is adamant and always calls me. He is still too young to understand that Artsakh is under siege, that the Azerbaijanis do not allow his father to return home," said Narek Kamalyan, a resident of Artsakh's Gishi village, in a conversation with Radar Armenia, that he cannot return to his homeland these days.
Norayr, one of the Kamalyan brothers, was wounded in the 7th defense district of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region ("Eghniks") a few years ago, and he still has health problems. He had to receive regular treatment in Yerevan. On December 8, Narek and Norayr from the Gishi, Martuni region village, said goodbye to their family members as usual and went to Yerevan, not even thinking that the Azerbaijanis would close the Lachin corridor, the way of life.
Narek and his brother are married and have one child each. Narek works in the Ministry of Urban Development of Nagorno-Karabakh, and Norayr works with the police. After settling Norayr's health problems, the brothers decided on a hotel in Goris on December 15.
"They said that the road might be opened; we came to Goris, but lo and behold, the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia was never opened. We stayed at the hotel. The Syunik administrative department has taken care of our living expenses, and the hotel's management covers the food issue. Missing hurts the most, especially since I wouldn't say I like missing my son Mark. We are always in touch with our housemates via the Internet. My wife and child stayed with my parents in the village. They eagerly await when the road is opened for us to return. Marks is distraught and worried that I am not at home. When I talk back, he hugs the phone and cries. He calls "papa" all the time. The same goes for my brother's 3-year-old daughter, Nare. Now, I try not to overthink other social problems. The important thing is that the problem of baby food and medicine is solved; the rest is secondary," says Narek frankly and continues to tell how much he is attached to his son, how he spends his free time with Mark, how he holds his son in his arms. Every day, he goes to the village, then walks around the town so that Mark gets to know the city. But for 20 days, the child has been deprived of seeing his father.
"We miss our village, home, relatives, everyone. The village is mountainous; every place is picturesque, and nature is lush and rich in springs and sights. I miss walks with my son. Generally, any place in Karabakh is dear to us; even a small bush and stone are important. And we will fight for the road to be opened," assures Narek, recalling that he tried to pass through the Lachin corridor several times, but they were not allowed. The deputy commander of the Russian peacekeepers said on December 25 that they were waiting for an order the issue would be solved "from above."
Although it's New Year in a few days, they don't even think about it. According to Narek, they are trying not to worry that the Lachin corridor will be closed during the holidays and they will not be able to return to Artsakh. "Every second, we are waiting with hope that the road should be opened so we can reach our families. Our only goal is to open the road, not to prepare for the New Year. I think the biggest gift to my son will be to get home because Mark needs to be by his side at this moment," says Narek, and he notes that apart from the opening of the Lachin Corridor, he wants Artsakh to remain Armenian, and Mark to grow up in peaceful Artsakh.
Hayk Magoyan
