These Teens Are Fighting a War Older Than They Are

SOURCE: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2018/01/nagorno-karabakh-armenia-azerbaijan-border-photographs/

“These Teens Are Fighting a War Older Than They Are”

As we all may have previously heard, along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border exists a military limbo containing 150,000 who are living in an unrecognized republic. In the April of 2016, Armenia and Azerbaijan battled for four days over the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, land that belongs to the Armenians, yet is claimed by Azerbaijan. A cease fire had taken place in 1996, however, as both sides slowly violated each other's territories, war broke out in 2016. Soldiers as young as 13 trained to fight in the battle and photographer Emanuele Amighetti from National Geographic visited the region last year to capture the aftermath of the conflict, including analyzing the psychological effects that stemmed from the war. “Their dedication and profoundness was something I had never seen before,” stated Amighetti. “I felt obliged to humanize these young boys and girls.”

The country’s economy can drastically be affected as a result of these battles, especially since young people seeking to educate themselves are forced to train in Nagorno-Karabakh to prepare for battle. Amighetti recalls meeting an 18 year old boy who had left his studies in Yerevan to join the army; he seeked to study journalism and was quite fascinated to meet a foreign photographer the first time.

These articles serve as constant reminders of the pain our people are currently facing. It is as if history keeps repeating itself, yet what is so admirable about the Armenians is that they have the courage to persevere in order to save our land and expand our rich culture.

Written by: Aelita Arshakyan

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