We Have Returned from the Grave: Joseph, Returned from Captivity, Shares Details

Among the 44 prisoners of war who returned to Armenia from Azerbaijan is Joseph Sahakyan. The young man from Lori is currently in the hospital undergoing a complete medical examination.

In an interview with Aravot.am, Joseph recounted that his only issue is a foot injury sustained on the battlefield. "My only problem is my leg; I walk with a limp. They advised me to use a cane for some time to avoid excessive strain and to facilitate quicker recovery," says Joseph, emphasizing that unlike his physical condition, he is doing considerably better mentally. "It may sound strange, but I’m in a good psychological state. Although everything is strange, the guys who were in captivity share stories that if someone hears, they would say it's impossible. God saved our lives; we have returned from the grave to our homes."

After the start of the war, like many young men, Joseph also received a notice to report for duty. On October 17, he was taken to Hoktamberyan, and then to Sisian, where after several days of retraining, he was sent to the front lines in Kubatly on October 24.

"We climbed to positions, and within 10 minutes, shelling began. It felt as if someone was waiting for us there. Many of those who went with me were killed at that moment. I immediately lined up to help the injured, and they sent us off with an ambulance. About 15 minutes later, I also received a shrapnel injury to my right leg. They attempted to transfer me to the nearest hospital because the wound was very deep," Joseph recalls.

The truck that was trying to transport Joseph and other wounded soldiers rolled down a ravine due to an enemy drone. According to Joseph, he miraculously survived, while the other five passengers in the vehicle did not. "My foot slipped out of place; I crawled out of the truck to avoid an explosion. But above me, I felt that a drone was circling again. It dropped four bombs on me. At that moment, I thought this was it for me, but they didn't explode. Afterwards, I crawled up the mountain for two days and saw that Azerbaijanis were in front of me. I also noticed there was our military ambulance. I thought I would approach the vehicle in the dark to escape, but I didn't make it. About 20 Azerbaijanis came up and saw me there," he says.

On October 26, Joseph was captured. "In the beginning, it was understandably difficult. I was captured; they didn't kiss my face. They hurt me, they hit me. There were attempts to do even more brutal things—killing, etc. But they only frightened me. It was like this in the early days. At that time, we were in military police custody, and then we were transferred to the NSS," Joseph recounts, noting that where he was interrogated, he remained for 14 days.

As a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he was later transferred to the local Adventist church, where Joseph performed services. He was also offered to read the Quran in the church, which, as the pastor said, he read twice with joy. After that, he was gifted a Bible. Joseph states that the NSS treated prisoners well: "They fed us three times a day, took the wounded for medical check-ups, and even bathed us. After that, we were transferred to the largest prison in Baku." He stayed in that prison for 33 days. In the same cell with him were also Hayk and Vahen, who also returned home. Until the last moment, the guys were unaware they would also be returning home. "They told us maybe half an hour before leaving. We had indescribable feelings when we found out we were coming to Armenia. There were thoughts that we might not return, how would our situation be? We thought it might be too late, or we wouldn't be on the lists at all. There were days of sorrow. But God's word helped us overcome those 33 days and escape from captivity."