“Hayern Aysor” presents an interview with Vice-President of the Armenian community of Yaroslavl (Russian Federation) Vitali Arustamyan, who was recently in Armenia.

“Hayern Aysor”: Mr. Arustamyan, many Armenians have settled in different countries due to different reasons. What made you move to the Russian Federation?

Vitali Arustamyan: There were many different reasons, but the main reason why I moved was because of my financial situation. My family and I have been living in the Russian Federation for nearly 20 years now.

“Hayern Aysor”: Where were you born? Where are your roots from?

V. A.: I was born in the Mataghis village of the Martakert region in Artsakh. I graduated from the local school, after which I graduated from the cooperative technical school in Yerevan and then the Faculty for Studies on Merchandising (that was how it was referred to in our days) at Yerevan State University. I have taught at the technical school of commerce and economy in Kirovakan (modern-day Vanadzor) for nearly 18 years, and it was in Vanadzor where I started a family.

“Hayern Aysor”: First the Mataghis village of Martakert village in Artsakh, then Yerevan, Vanadzor and Yaroslavl…You have “traveled” so much, Mr. Arustamyan! Which of them is the place that is the closest to your heart and where you would like to live and work?

V. A.: The Homeland! That’s the place that’s the closest to my heart and the place that pulls me with an invisible force. I’ll definitely return someday. I have two sons, a daughter and two grandsons. My children received an Armenian education and were provided with an Armenian upbringing. My family was one of the Armenian families that preserve and protect the Armenian language. As soon as we get the chance, we’ll all return to the Homeland.

“Hayern Aysor”: What chance, Mr. Arustamyan?

V. A.: My children have jobs in Russia. If they find relevant jobs and are provided with conditions in Armenia, we’ll come. That’s what I’m talking about.

“Hayern Aysor”: Could you please tell us about the Armenian community of Yaroslavl?

V. A.: There are 10-11,000 Armenians living in Yaroslavl. Armenians have lived here a long time ago, but the community was established and officially registered in November 1991. After the events that took place in Artsakh, many Armenians came to Russia, and quite a lot of Armenians settled in Yaroslavl. The Armenian community was the first ethnic community in Yaroslavl in 1991. The community has had four presidents. The current president is Socrat Khachatryan, and I have been the vice-president since 1994. There are a little more than 100 active members. We have a community council that has its statute and programs and organizes various events and meetings. Three years ago, we placed a cross-stone in the place where a church is currently under construction. We hope construction ends soon. We established an Armenian Sunday school in 1999 and have been moving from one school to the next. We’re waiting for the end of construction of the Armenian Culture Home where we’ll have a library and museum and a place for the Armenian Sunday school.

The RA Ministry of Diaspora helped us a lot with textbooks last year. For the past 20 years, the community’s “Nayiri” Dance Ensemble has been performing not only Armenian dances, but Armenian songs as well. Of course, the members are not professional, and that’s why we don’t dare to organize their performances outside of Yaroslavl. We need a dance expert. We’ve been involved in the construction of a church and culture home for the past 10-12 years. As soon as we finish that, we’ll invite professional experts from the Homeland.

“Hayern Aysor”: Are the locals and the Armenians on good terms?

V. A.: Armenians are on rather good terms with the Russians. The nearly 300-year spiritual and cultural relations play a major role in Yaroslavl. Armenians are creators everywhere, and that’s surely noticeable.

“Hayern Aysor”: What do Armenians in Yaroslavl do? In which sectors are they engaged?

V. A.: They’re mainly construction workers. There are few Armenians within the state apparatus, but the youth are advancing slowly, yet surely in the cities and in the regions. We already have Armenian Members of Parliament. In a couple of days, our region’s doctors’ association will hold its first congress, which will be followed by the Armenian lawyers’ congress.

“Hayern Aysor”: What are you concerned about?

V. A.: I’m very concerned about assimilation, which is growing very rapidly.

“Hayern Aysor”: Mr. Arustamyan, what do you remember and miss the most when you think of Artsakh, the place where you were born?

V. A. :I remember the land, the air, the water, the dialect in which I would talk, the paths that I would take when I was a child, everything connected to my parents, my friends…

“Hayern Aysor”: And my last question that I always ask. What does the Homeland mean to you?

V. A.: Everything. For me, the Homeland is a holy, indivisible integrity.

“Hayern Aysor” Well, I thank you for this interview and wish you success on your path back to the Homeland.

Karine Avagyan