For 100 seconds project Adriana Sklenarikova-Karembeu reads an extract from Armenian Genocide survivor Satenik Parunakian’s testimony.

National Archives of Armenia
Collection of Documents

Testimony of survivor Satenik Parunakian on the massacre at the village of Kharakonis of Archak in Van district of Van Province

[1916] Baku

There were no men among us. There were examining us and if they found a man they would take him away and kill him. They didn’t spare even children; they would immediately kill any male child they found.

Our boys had forelocks so they were looking at their heads and if someone had a forelock, they would immediately take them away from us and kill them. So we started to tear off the children’s forelocks with our teeth as we had no scissors.

They checked my children’s heads several times but fortunately didn’t notice anything, so they were saved. We stayed at the priest’s house for several days.

We had no bread, no other food. We were taking water from a well and feeding children with it. Many children died there of hunger.

Producers: Ara Tadevosyan
Filming: Lena Gevorgyan, Mariam Loretsyan
Post Production: Tumo LLC

The source of Satenik Parunakian’s testimony: National Archives of Armenia, Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Turkey, 1915, Testimony of survivors, Collection of documents, Yerevan-2013.

VivaCell-MTS is the general partner of 100 seconds project.