20/02/2015 21:39
Special Project. Survivors of Armenian Genocide. Evidence of Haykanush Hloyants about massacres in Khnus
Aysor.am is launching the third series of project “Armenian Genocide: Breaking the Silence.” Under the headline “Survivors” we will regularly present the testimonies of survivors of the 1915 Armenian massacres in the Ottoman Turkey.
Haykanush Hloyants who found refuge in the village of Ughuzli recalled:
“On Ascension Day the Government ordered that all the Armenians be expelled from the town and massacred. A flight began, during which I lost my children.
Osman chavush caught me. At first he was going to throw me into a river, but then he thought that he needed me so he spared my life and took me and my 6-year-old son Hamazasp to Chapaghjur. He kept me in his family in a village and started to cohabit forcibly with me.
Osman had a legal Turkish wife, and an Armenian wife - like me – whom they converted into a Turk and called ‘Minavar’ which means ‘heavenly light’. I was named Nikar. I stayed at that house for three months. When the Russians were approaching, Osman together with his two wives and the entire family moved inland, but he left me and my son behind, thinking that if the Russians won and captured our village, I would find my compatriots - and when Turks won, I would protect the house until their return.
With God’s help, the Russian won. They assembled us and handed us over to the fortress staff that sent us to Igdir. The name of the son I lost was Azat. My husband’s name is Arevshat. He was an askyar. I have no news of him.
(The evidence was recorded by Varos Sargsyan).
The project was prepared with the assistance of the Information and Analytical Center of the Armenian Government Staff.