Remnants of the Sword: Armenians of Artsakh

The title of this video, "Remnants of the Sword," refers to a term often used by Azerbaijani and Turkish officials to describe Armenians as the survivors of historical attempts at extermination, particularly the Armenian Genocide. It reflects the ongoing intent of these regimes to continue the violence and erasure of the Armenian people, as we've seen once again in the events that unfolded in Artsakh in 2023.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched its final assault on Artsakh, following a brutal nine-month blockade designed to starve and terrorize the Armenian population. This attack forced the entire ethnic Armenian population of Artsakh to flee their homeland. In this video, I document the stories of those affected—people who have been displaced not just once, but multiple times in their lives, as their homes have become battlefields.

We’ve included personal testimonies from people like Siranush Sargsyan, who describes the unbearable conditions of the mass exodus, and Marina Simonyan, who recounts the horrors of war and the psychological terror inflicted upon her community. There are also heartbreaking accounts of families torn apart by violence, like Goharine Hovoyan, who lost her son in the September attacks, and Father Hovhannes, who witnessed his village bombed and his community displaced.

This video also sheds light on Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts to erase Armenian cultural heritage, as they destroy churches, monuments, and cemeteries, aiming to wipe out any trace of Armenians in the region. As tens of thousands of refugees now struggle to rebuild their lives in Armenia, they have left behind not just their homes, but their history, and the graves of their ancestors.

This is not just a historical record—these people are still waiting. They wait in uncertainty, unsure of when the violence will resume, as Azerbaijan and Turkey continue to threaten the very existence of Armenians. This is their story. This is our story.

CREDITS:

Produced by
DEDE LAUGESEN,
executive director of Save the Persecuted Christians

Video Design, Graphics and Music Composition by
OLEG ATBASHIAN

Photos and Videos from Artsakh, © 2023 by
SIRANUSH SARGSYAN

Witness testimonies captured by
THE CENTER FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE

Satellite Imagery:
Caucasus Heritage Watch
Planet Labs PBC

Drone footage of Armenia: Ash Haghighi

With special thanks to:

The Center for Truth and Justice
Save Armenia
Mercury One and The Nazarene Fund
Armenian Assembly of America
Caucasus Heritage Watch
Planet Labs PBC