Vaghuhas (Armenian: Վաղուհաս) or Gozlu (Azerbaijani: Qozlu) is a village located in the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until 2023 it was controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh. The village had an ethnic Armenian-majority population[2] until the exodus of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh following the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh.[3]

Vaghuhas
Վաղուհաս
Qozlu
Vaghuhas is located in Azerbaijan
Vaghuhas
Vaghuhas
Vaghuhas is located in East Zangezur Economic Region
Vaghuhas
Vaghuhas
Coordinates: 40°06′52″N 46°28′47″E / 40.11444°N 46.47972°E / 40.11444; 46.47972
Country  Azerbaijan
 • DistrictKalbajar
Elevation
988 m (3,241 ft)
Population
 (2015)[1]
 • Total
678
Time zoneUTC+4 (AZT)

History

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The monastery of Khatravank (Armenian: Խաթրավանք) built in 1204, near Vaghuhas

During the Soviet period, the village was a part of the Mardakert District of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.

According to civilian reports, during the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani soldiers entered the village and forcibly demanded that its entire Armenian population leave while firing their weapons in the air.[4][5]

Historical heritage sites

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Historical heritage sites in and around the village include the ruins of the ancient Armenian settlement of Mayrakahag (Armenian: Մայրաքաղաք), including the Tiramayr Monastery (Armenian: Տիրամայր Վանք) built in 1183,[6] an 8th/9th-century chapel, a 12th/13th-century cemetery, the monastery of Khatravank (Armenian: Խաթրավանք) built in 1204, the monastery of Karmiravan (Armenian: Կարմիրավան) built in 1224, also known as the Red Monastery – Karmir Vank, Կարմիր վանք, and the medieval village of Hin Vaghuhas (Armenian: Հին Վաղուհաս, lit.'Old Vaghuhas').[1]

Economy and culture

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The population is mainly engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. As of 2015, the village has a municipal building, a house of culture, a secondary school, seven shops, and a medical centre.[1]

Demographics

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The village had 638 inhabitants in 2005,[7] and 678 inhabitants in 2015.[1]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hakob Ghahramanyan. "Directory of socio-economic characteristics of NKR administrative-territorial units (2015)".
  2. ^ Андрей Зубов. "Андрей Зубов. Карабах: Мир и Война". drugoivzgliad.com.
  3. ^ Sauer, Pjotr (2 October 2023). "'It's a ghost town': UN arrives in Nagorno-Karabakh to find ethnic Armenians have fled". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  4. ^ Hauer, Neil (September 29, 2023). "Tragedy in real time: The Armenian exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh". Canada: CTV News.
  5. ^ Grigoryan, Rima; Makiyan, Hayk (September 27, 2023). "Stranded in Goris: Karabakh Family Sleeps in Van". Armenia: Hetq.
  6. ^ Ш. Мкртчян / Майракахак или монастырь Тирамайр /Историко-архитектурные памятники Нагорно-Карабаха/ стр. 47-48 (360)
  7. ^ "The Results of the 2005 Census of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" (PDF). National Statistic Service of the Republic of Artsakh.
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