Ani Gevorgyan

77-year-old Araksya Avetisyan, a Vanadzor resident, has raised her five grandchildren on her own for the past five years. The children’s parents took off, abandoning them to Araksya’s care. To say that the family lives in poverty would be an understatement. Mrs. Avetisyan receives a pension and child support. Two of the children have reached the age of military conscription. But Araksya doesn’t have the money to send them to get the medical examination the army requires.

“They left for Yerevan a week ago for the examination. They were told to wait due to a backlog. The boys said they didn’t have the money to stay in Yerevan. Officials told them to go back to Vanadzor and return later. But we don’t have the means to send them back to Yerevan,” Mrs. Avetisyan told Hetq.

One of the boys, Khajak, was pre-diagnosed with goiter. He was given a permit to get an additional exam at a Yerevan medical center.

The family lives in a cabinat Leningradyan Street in Vanadzor.

Araksya says the government cut her monthly childcare payments from 55,000 AMD ($115) to 35,000 because two of the children are considered adults.

Khajak says he and his brother cut wood the other day, making 1,000 AMD ($2.10).

“I bought flour with the money to make bread. There’s no other work for the kids to do around her,” says Araksya.

“Bedros is 19. He got knifed in a fight two years ago and was granted a postponement for military service. Now, he’s been conscripted. But without the medical exam, how will the army take him,” asks Mrs. Avetisyan.

“Two other grandchildren are in school. Lilit is 16 and Sevak, 8. Syuzy, the youngest, will soon turn 6,” says Araksya.

“The six of us live together. Who knows what will happen? I just want the kids to be able to get their lives in order,” Mrs. Avetisyan says.

“The dampness surrounds us. Naturally, the children will get sick,” she says.

“He’s our electricity inspector. We owe him 2,500 AMD. I’ve convinced him to hold off cutting the power until tomorrow.”

“Before the local elections, I wanted to ask for help but my eldest grandchild told me not to. They’re a nest of snakes, he said.”