By Emma Petrosyan

Armik Avetyan, a resident of the village of Shnogh in Armenia’s Lori Province, lost two of her sons within a span of twenty days in 1992, during the Artsakh War.

“My Vachagan died first, he was already in the army. My Armen went in 1988. Both perished in the intense fighting of 1992,” says Mrs. Avetyan.

Vachagan’s body was the first to be brought back to the village for burial. The family waited for four days, thinking that Armen would return to attend his brother’s funeral. He never showed up.

“Twenty days later, after the funeral, we were reading the letter sent by Vachagan. Suddenly, we saw a bunch of cars in the yard. It was my Armen. When he found out that his brother had been killed, he wanted to take revenge and left. I lost two sons within twenty days,” said a teary-eyed Mrs. Avetyan.

Her only solace are her other two sons and a daughter who share their parents’ grief. Mrs. Avetyan has resigned herself to the loss of her two sons, but is quite concerned about losing Valentin, her third son, who suffers from a number of medical ailments.

The mother says that Valentin experienced a ton of stress over the death of his brothers and that’s when his health started to deteriorate.

“We took him for treatment here and there. He was alright. But ever since last December, he’s gotten worse. I don’t know what exactly happened. He complained of shortness of breath and leg pain,” Mrs. Avetyan said.

Valentin was forced to leave work and stay home, under the care of his parents.

While married, Valentin has no children. The extended family of seven, none who work, live in a two room apartment.

Mrs. Avetyan has health issues of her own. She’s been operated on six times and needs another. But her son’s health is a priority for her.

“We took him to a doctor in Alaverdi who sent us to Vanadzor, who then sent us to Yerevan. From there we were sent to Nork-Marash. They took x-rays and found water had collected in his lungs and that one of his heart valves was closed and another was in poor shape,” Valentin’s mother said.

Valentin was prescribed medications and scheduled for surgery. Due to a lack of family finances, the operation has been delayed.

Varouzhan Avetyan, Valentin’s father, has knocked on all possible doors for assistance.

“I’ve gone to the defense and health ministries and have petitioned the chief cardiologist. I’ve asked that Valentin be put on a list for state-financed surgery. They said it was impossible and that the best they could do was give us a 200,000 AMD discount. I even hired a lawyer to draw up some letters to be sent to the appropriate agencies. None have yet to be answered,” said Mr. Avetyan.

The father of two dead Artsakh soldiers has given up any hope on receiving assistance from the government.

He was told by a deputy minister at the defense ministry that the country is now at war and that many are being killed. “We can’t help you and that’s final, was what he told me,” says Valentin’s father, who can’t remember the name of the official.

Mr. Avetyan even went to see the president of Armenia but was turned away. He was told the president doesn’t see people off the street.

Valentin’s mother is placing her hope on the kindness of strangers.

“I can’t bring my two sons back. I can only be proud that I had two hero sons. I just want for this other son to get better,” she says.

Heart surgery for Valentin will cost 3.4 million AMD (US$7,200).

Bank accounts for those wishing to donate have been opened by the Avetyan family.

VTB-Armenia Bank, Alaverdi Branch

AMD 16019032720700

USD 16019032720701

EUR 16019032720702

RUR 16019032720703

AMD 16019032720700

USD 16019032720701

EUR 16019032720702

RUR 16019032720703

Top photo (from left): Valentin and his father Varouzhan