Artuysha Mikayelyan’s body was found partially buried in the woods of Khachmach village on September 27, 2023. The 87-year-old had died from a head injury.

Artyusha Mikayelyan, a former teacher, dedicated forty-two years of his life to teaching Russian in the village of Nerkin Sznek. He also served as village mayor during the years of First Karabakh War.

He lived with his wife, son, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. His eldest son was killed in 1992 during the First Karabakh War. On the day of the 2023 attack, his younger son was stationed at a military post.

Azerbaijani Attack Forces Villagers to Flee

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijani armed forces launched an attack on Nerkin Sznek. The village's population was evacuated to the nearby village of Khachmach. With the main road to Stepanakert blocked, the villagers had to trek approximately seven kilometers through the woods to reach Khachmach. 

Artyusha left his village with his wife, older sister, and three fellow villagers. His wife, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren had already reached Khachmach and were waiting in cars that would take them to Stepanakert.

“According to my mother, my father had fallen behind the others  because he was helping his 92-year-old sister,” says Artyusha’s daughter, Astghik Mikayelyan. 

Astghik had been living and working in Stepanakert for many years. The last time she visited her family in the village was on September 17, just two days before the attack.

“It was a fortunate coincidence. My cousin managed to find some gasoline, and we drove to the village in his car. That was the last time I saw my father,” recalls Astghik.

She learned the details of her father’s final days from fellow villager Mavrik Pashayan, who spent those days with Artyusha Mikayelyan.

Upon reaching Khachmach, the residents of Nerkin Sznek were evacuated to Stepanakert by car. Artyusha managed to get his 92-year-old sister into one of the vehicles. However, due to limited space, six people, including Artyusha, had to stay behind in Khachmach and spent the night there.

The following day, on September 20, when Azerbaijani forces reached Khachmach, those who had stayed behind were forced to flee on foot. Robert Musayelyan, Shura Manasyan, Mavrik Pashayan and Nurvard Voskanyan took one path, while Artyusha Mikayelyan and  Melikset Pashayan took another. Robert Musayelyan and Shura Manasyan remain missing without a trace to this day.

Mavrik Pashayan and Nurvard Voskanyan were captured by Azerbaijani soldiers. They were taken to Shushi, where they were beaten, tortured, and only released a week later.. Due to the efforts of the Red Cross, they were brought to Armenia by emergency transport. Melikset Pashayan was also captured and remains imprisoned in Baku.

On September 27, rescuers found Artyusha Mikayelyan’s body in the woods of Khachmach, near the village of Karmir Shuka. His body was partially covered in soil, with a cut on the back of his head.

According to the forensic examination, his cause of death was a brain injury, but his family doesn't know how he sustained the injury.

Some members of the Mikayelyan family left Artsakh on the morning of September 25, with the remaining family members leaving the next day.

“On September 27, I received a call that my father’s body had been found,” says Astghik. She recounts that her father's body was unrecognizable and they were only able to identify him by the tattoo on his wrist and his heart stimulator.

In 2021, with the support of his family, Artyusha Mikayelyan published his first book, which tells the story of his homeland, Nerkin Sznek village. After retiring, Artyusha devoted himself to agriculture, creating memorial alleys dedicated to the martyrs of the First Karabakh War and the 44-Day War.

Artyusha Mikayelyan’s book to his daughter with his inscription 

In the months before his death, Artyusha Mikayelyan was working on a book about the story of his family tree, however his work remained in the village and was not completed.