03/03/2015 21:34
Special Project. Survivors of Armenian Genocide. Aleksan Susyan’s testimony on massacres in village of Molla Suleyman
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.
Survivor Aleksan Susyan’s testimony on massacres in village of Molla Suleyman, Alashkert region of Bayazet province.
“The 1914 draft was forcibly conducted, eleven people did not return. In late 1914 the village head Ter Martiros was taken away by Turks. He never returned – he allegedly said that the German king drank poison. In September 1914 Tah chavush and gendarmes entered our village. They beat residents and collected weapons – about 10 ones. They also collected about 300 pieces of gold by threats. The Russians captured our area in October. They suddenly retreated from Pokr Zatik in 1915. Zatik’s residents (Armenians) fled to our village. Kurds besieged the village. Armenians offered resistance – among them Tigran and Karapet from our village with their 20 friends, also Zatik villagers Mambre and Sirun together with 20 friends.
One day they fought until the evening, using up all bullets. Kurds deceived them, they said that nothing bad would happen if they surrendered their guns. Five guys – Mikael, Grigor, Poghos and others did not give themselves up. They ran away, but the rest surrendered themselves to the Kurds. After seizing their weapons, the Kurds murdered 180 men of our village, including Archimandrite Khuriekyan, Muso, Paghpas, Soghomon. About 150 men from Zatik were also massacred in our village. The men and children remained in the hands of Kurds. The Russians came again and captured the village. The Kurds fled from our village, but took 44 girls and 5 boys with them. We went to Karakilisa, 100 were dead there, the others, without any property, have moved to this side. The village is destroyed by Russians. Some of the villagers stayed in the village, some went to Alexandropol.
We are staying here, at Nor Bayazet, 3 houses with 14 people, 5 died after the retreat. Resident Aleksan Susyan of Molla Suleyman village. August 31, 1916. ”
The project was prepared with the assistance of the Information and Analytical Center of the Armenian Government Staff.