How was your family affected by the genocide?

[sergzone]

I thought this would be an interesting topic to share your family background and grief.
My great grandfather was born and lived in Vaspurakan up until the 1915 genocide. His entire family, consisting of 15 people was killed, including his kids, parents and pregnant wife. He and his brother were the only survivers. His brother immigrated to the US and was essentially "lost." While already in Armenia, he remarried and had 4 kids, one of whom was my grandfather who moved to Azerbaijan, Baku where my father was born and received his education. In late 80s our entire family was evacuated due to the conflict between Azerbaijanis and Armenians, i'm sure most of you are aware of this. We lived in Russia for the next 10 years and suffered nothing but prejudice, racism and hatered for being "black," which is how people referred to anyone who was Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian or simply dark skinned. 7 years ago we managed to immigrate to the United States where we actually felt like everyone else.
To my best understanding, the graveyard of my family members, who died in Baku, were buldozed shortly after we were evacuated.

[Joseph]

I thought this would be an interesting topic to share your family background and grief.
My great grandfather was born and lived in Vaspurakan up until the 1915 genocide. His entire family, consisting of 15 people was killed, including his kids, parents and pregnant wife. He and his brother were the only survivers. His brother immigrated to the US and was essentially "lost." While already in Armenia, he remarried and had 4 kids, one of whom was my grandfather who moved to Azerbaijan, Baku where my father was born and received his education. In late 80s our entire family was evacuated due to the conflict between Azerbaijanis and Armenians, i'm sure most of you are aware of this. We lived in Russia for the next 10 years and suffered nothing but prejudice, racism and hatered for being "black," which is how people referred to anyone who was Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian or simply dark skinned. 7 years ago we managed to immigrate to the United States where we actually felt like everyone else.
To my best understanding, the graveyard of my family members, who died in Baku, were buldozed shortly after we were evacuated.

Welcome to the forum sergzone. Thank you for sharing your family's story with us. As I meet more and more Armenians from Baku, I'm really starting to see a pattern that they were next in line to be annihilated. When I get a chance, I'll give you my family's background. It's good to have you here with us.

[Joseph]

TODAY IS THE 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF BAKU MASSACRES
Marlena Hovsepyan

"Radiolur"
15.01.2007 17:58

Up until 1988 Nelly Danielyan taught Russian language and literature
in one of Baku schools. Today she chairs the "Union of Refugees and
Farmers" NGO.

For her even remembering the bloody events is Baku is painful. "Men
were being killed in the street. Everywhere there were fires, on
which the property of Armenians was burnt, the homes of Armenians
were robbed," she said.

It may sound unbelievable, but before moving to Yerevan, in Baku
Azerbaijani refugees concealed Mrs. Nelly in her own house. "These
people helped me, they hid me in the bathroom while the "National
front" was breaking our doors.

Azerbaijanis who returned from Yerevan were telling that neighbors were
seeing them off with tears in their eyes. In Baku no one was crying
when Armenians were being killed and robbed," Nelly Ghukasyan says.

Naturally, the refugees received neither moral nor material
reimbursement.

Heading the NGO, Nelly Ghukasyan has sent numerous letters to different
international structures, never receiving any response.

Giving a political assessment to the massacres of Baku, political
scientist Suren Zolyan noted that the tragedy that befell Armenians
should be loudly spoken about, since our neighbor is constantly trying
to distort the events.