Victory Day in Artsakh: celebrating Shushi revival

PanARMENIAN.Net - Victory Day in Artsakh… Since the very morning, the orchestra in the city park has been playing wartime melodies – the time seemed to have made a leap into the past – every face shining with pride at having defeated the enemy who'll never again set foot in this land.

Artsakh President Bako Sahakayan along with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan led a march to War Veterans Memorial, with a number of foreign guests accompanying them. The procession stopped at the tank which was the first to break into Shushi. The opening of an art gallery, featuring works of Armenian painters, was another highlight of the day.

According to the NKR presidential adviser Grigory Gabrielyan, the opening of an art gallery in Shushi is a welcome step in a gradually reviving city.

The town is coming back to life, yet the old city is almost non-existent – 70 years of Soviet rule, or rather Azeri rule, have almost completely effaced the historic Shushi. Nevertheless, year after year, the town becomes more suitable to live in. No one wants to leave despite the lack of jobs, and when asked, Shushi people always pose the question: who'll be protecting the land if we leave?

Everywhere we've been met by children. Looking into those faces one believes that the future of Artsakh is in good hands. These children don't care about what the world thinks of their country – they live in their own land.

It's always rainy in Artsakh on May 9. The ancient fortress is getting covered in mist to dissipate later in the day. But nothing can stand in the way of celebration.