Twenty-two years ago, Vanyans left Yerevan for Tsaghkaberd village of the Kashatagh region in Artsakh, without anything, empty-handed. All these years, they settled and created their own farm, but due to the recent war, they now go back to square one.  

“On October 17, we had no choice but to leave the village. We packed in 20 minutes and left, taking the television, our kids’ music player, and four blankets. We thought we would soon go back,” tells Arsen Vanyan. 

Bavakan, the daughter-in-law, had left the village together with her three minor children earlier. She only took a bag of clothing for kids, thinking their return wouldn’t wait. 

Bavakan’s husband Arman had been the last one to be at their home before Tsaghkaberd was occupied. He only managed to take their documents and the family album. 

After living with their relatives for a while, the Vanyan family of seven temporarily settled in Shahumyan village of the Lori region. 

Twenty-two years later, they have to start their life from zero for the second time.