11/02/2015 21:17
Special Project. Survivors of Armenian Genocide. Misak Aghbalyan on deportation of Karin population
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. We present the first eyewitness testimony from the series.
On May 23 the government told 165 Armenian households to move to Mosul. The 165 Armenian households informed the Primacy about the government’s plan and were included in a list. On June 3, 25-30 households of them leased 200 horses and moved to Kharberd along Kghi road.
The rest of those 165 households on June 6 traveled in carts to Yerznka through Bayburd route. On June 8 the Government again told 500 households to leave the city within 8 days.
On June 15, 500 households went to Yerznka via Bayburd route. On June 20, artisans (1259 households) were offered to migrate. On June 25 they also left Karin via Bayburd route. Only 100 houses – widowed women and orphaned children remained in the city, but they too were told to leave on July 8. They were deported in 8 days.
Bishop Smbat was ordered to move to Yerznka on July 15. Armenian doctors and surgeons had to migrate on July 16. Only 10 households of artisans were left in the city. The belfry was pulled down on December 2.
The project was prepared with the assistance of the Information and Analytical Center of the Armenian Government Staff.