The Cost of Staying in Artsakh: Kamo Becomes Bedridden After Azerbaijani 'Treatment'

Since October of last year, more than 50 people have been transported from Stepanakert to Armenia with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The last two to leave were a married couple, Sargis Galstyan and Margarita Shahnazaryan, who were moved on March 29.

Each person who remained had their own reasons to stay. Kamo Arakelyan, an actor at the Stepanakert Dramatic Theatre, has a sister who told MediaHub that her brother relocated to Yerevan in November 2023. He had stayed in his house, thinking that everyone would return again. “He had done the same during the 44-day war in 2020. When Artsakh was evacuated, he said, ‘I have nowhere to go; I am staying here.’ In September, when Artsakh was emptied, I and my husband urged him to come with us, but he kept saying the same thing: ‘You go ahead; I will stay,’” said Yelena.

According to her, Kamo did not have serious health issues. Even recently, he was going to work, engaged in his beloved profession. “He only complained occasionally about leg pain, which was probably due to his age. When we left, he did not have health problems. After moving to Yerevan, I contacted the Red Cross office to transfer Kamo. I provided his home address; he lived in one of the houses on Raffi Street. While they were taking steps, Azerbaijani channels released a video where my brother was receiving treatment in the hospital,” she explained.

Kamo Arakelyan stated that he had not encountered many residents in Stepanakert and saw no one in the city besides Azerbaijanis. In recent days, his health condition has deteriorated sharply. Azerbaijani police transported him to a republican hospital and filmed another show featuring Kamo. “He was operated on; I don't know what else they did, but my brother has not been able to stand since then, and he has become bedridden after being transferred to Armenia,” she noted. At Yelena's request and Kamo's desire, he was moved to Yerevan. The treatment process has begun, but so far, Yelena has not been able to register as his caregiver since Kamo has no family or children. He is currently living with his sister's family.