Your Namak for Friday, August 12
Armenian soldiers killed in Azerbaijani attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, Aghavno and Berdzor villages receive evacuation order, and Nagorno-Karabakh residents question role of Russian peacekeepers.
Hi there, here’s your weekly briefing of Armenian news in English, curated, reported and fact-checked by journalists Astrig Agopian and Maral Tavitian.
Azerbaijan Attacks Nagorno-Karabakh and Captures Territory
On August 3, according to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense, Azerbaijan initiated an operation called “Revenge” in Nagorno-Karabakh, capturing several strategic heights. According to the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), two Armenian soldiers were killed and 19 others were injured by drones. An Azerbaijani soldier was also killed earlier that day. Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan declared a partial military mobilization following the escalation. Although the Russian Minister of Defense denounced the ceasefire violation by Azerbaijan, Russian peacekeeping forces in the region did not take action.
Aghavno, Berdzor Residents to Evacuate Before Villages Are Handed Over to Azerbaijan
Armenian residents of Aghavno, Nerkin Sous and Berdzor must evacuate in the next two weeks before the villages are ceded to Azerbaijan. Hayk Khanumyan, Nagorno-Karabakh Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, informed residents of Aghavno they must leave before August 25.
The handover is not a complete surprise, as the Berdzor/Lachin region, which includes the villages, was set to pass to Azerbaijan pursuant to the November 10, 2020 ceasefire agreement.
However, the Berdzor/Lachin corridor is the only thoroughfare connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and the transfer was supposed to occur only after an alternative road, constructed by the Azerbaijani side, had been completed within three years. The new road remains under construction.
The announcement came as a shock to many residents, given that Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh authorities had repeatedly said that they were still negotiating the fate of the villages. About 200 people, one quarter of them children, will be forcibly displaced by the evacuation order. Many are burning their belongings, taking everything from the school and their houses, out of concern that the new occupants will disrespect and destroy anything left behind.
The Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh authorities have not offered a relocation plan for locals, many of whom have expressed frustration that they have no information and must organize their move themselves.
It is unclear how Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh will be connected, through the Berdzor/Lachin corridor or not, after the territorial handover on August 25.
The difficult situation has received limited media attention as Russian peacekeepers have repeatedly prevented Armenian journalists from entering the area. International journalists have been largely denied access to the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region for months.
For updates from the ground, you can check out content published online by locals. We have shared images from Stepanakert-based journalist Lilit Shahverdyan, who has been writing articles and documenting the situation on her social media.
Moscow Reacts to Criticism of Russian Peacekeepers
In a statement released on August 11, the Russian Foreign Ministry rejected criticism it has received about the role of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh. Locals have expressed that they do not feel safe despite the presence of Russian soldiers in the region, especially following the military escalation on August 3. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan publicly questioned the effectiveness of the Russian peacekeepers, suggesting they did not do enough to prevent Azerbaijani attacks. Moscow called those comments “unjustified.”
Nick Nikoian: Meet an Armenian-American musician taking listeners on a ride with his songs
“Because I came up learning classical pieces, I had a lot of respect for musicians and composers. It was never something that I thought I could do. Because these people are professionals, this is their life, I thought, ‘Who am I compared to Mozart?’”.
Nick Nikoian’s presence is as warm and inviting as his music. The 24-year-old musician and songwriter creates songs designed to turn up the energy of any room and get people on the dance floor.
Nick was born and raised in Los Angeles, the global capital of the entertainment industry. His mother, a pianist and accordion player, and his father, a violinist, encouraged him to pursue his love of music.
“I definitely gravitated towards music from a young age,” Nick says.
Nick trained in both voice and performance, joining his school choir in the fourth grade. In 2013, he graduated from the piano program at Lark Musical Society, a conservatory that specializes in classical and Armenian musical traditions. But it was not until university that he decided to take the leap as a solo artist.
“I had imposter syndrome,” Nick says. “Because I came up learning classical pieces, I had a lot of respect for musicians and composers. It was never something that I thought I could do. Because these people are professionals, this is their life, I thought, ‘Who am I compared to Mozart?’”.
Nick studied communications and music industry at UCLA, where he immersed himself in the details of music production and participated in an a cappella group. A lover of concerts, he was eager to apply his skills to a live performance of his own. That opportunity came in his senior year, when he competed in Spring Sing, an annual event at UCLA showcasing student performances in song, dance and sketch comedy.
Before thousands of people gathered at the university’s main sporting arena, Nick debuted his original song, “Dancing on the Roof.” The single reflects what Nick describes as his “funky pop” style, combining jazzy saxophone with feel-good lyrics about taking the night by storm.
But the performance was not a one-man affair –– Nick sang alongside his band, “TAXI.” His bandmates included people Nick had connected with at different stages in his musical career.
“It was all these people from different points in my life, which is one of the reasons why I decided to call the group ‘TAXI,’” Nick says. “I’m driving the taxi and people are hopping in and out as they wish.”
The single was an immediate hit, taking first prize in the competition’s Best Band category and winning the audience choice award.
“That was the most insane night of my life. It was one of the highest highs I had ever felt,” Nick recalls. “That event was what really convinced me to keep going.”
The band name reflects the mood Nick seeks to create with his music –– lighthearted, fun and open to anyone who wants to come along for a good time. He cites Bruno Mars, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake as some of his inspirations.
Through his songs, Nick also aims to broaden notions of what Armenian music can be, and the impact Armenian creators can make.
“I want to expand peoples’ knowledge of who Armenians are and what Armenia is,” Nick says. “Armenians are all around us and they’re amazing people, who are creative, have such a rich culture, and have so much to offer the world.”
Alongside pursuing his music, Nick works at NBC Universal as a TV music coordinator, deepening his understanding of the business side of the industry. He wants to serve as an inspiration for other young Armenians carving their own path in creative fields.
“I want to support Armenian voices and show people that we are small but mighty, and are doing really great things in the world,” Nick says.
To watch: How Armenia’s Diaspora is Spicing Up its Cuisine, a Vice News report highlighting the history of Syrian-Armenians, and the culinary revival this community has brought to Armenia in recent years.
To read: Karabakh residents increasingly questioning Russian peacekeepers’ effectiveness, a Eurasianet article by journalist Lilit Shahverdyan, who is reporting from Nagorno-Karabakh. After Azerbaijan used drones and mortars to capture strategic heights north of Lachin, killing two Armenian soldiers and injuring 19 others, locals are voicing doubts about the role of the Russian peacekeepers.
That’s it for today, see you next week!
Questions? Story ideas? An urge to say barev/parev? You can send us a secure email at namaknews@protonmail.com.