Irina Yolyan. “The personal contribution of each of us is very important for the country in this difficult period”

As a result of the second war that started in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 and all the events that followed it, Goris became the first shelter for displaced families, the main center for meeting their food and living needs, and soothing the pain and wounds of losses. Accompanied by the municipality, the residents of the city and adjacent settlements, young volunteers and representatives of the civil society reached out to help thousands of families, working day and night, giving love and responsibility to the mission of becoming a wing and back for their compatriots. Along with that, a number of settlements of the community enlarged as a result of the war are today under the target of the Azerbaijani armed forces and people live here under the constant threat of armed operations…

How has the lifestyle of people in Goris, on the frontline of the response, changed, what problems does the community face today? About these and other issues, WomenNet.am spoke with the deputy mayor of Goris, Irina Yolyan, who, since the days of the war, has shown herself to be a skilled organizer of humanitarian assistance, being appreciated by both the residents of the community and the families hosted here.

Irina Yolyan started her career as a TV commentator, has been involved in social activities for many years, being a member of the WINNET network of women’s development resource centers, she switched to politics in 2016, becoming a member of the Goris Council of Elders, and then being appointed the deputy head of the enlarged Goris community.

– After the war, many settlements in our community have become border areas, as a result of which the lives of people living in those communities have completely changed in terms of security and socio-economic opportunities. It is not a secret for anyone that today the bases of the Azerbaijani armed forces are very close to the residents, for example in Shurnukh, Vorotan, Nerkin Khndzoresk, as a result of which it has become dangerous to carry out agricultural work, these areas are observed by the enemy, they often shoot at civilians, we have such case. These realities have changed people’s lives completely. Women here have always been involved in agricultural and gardening work, but today, when the Azerbaijani armed forces are observing from the territories of Armenia, occupying significant areas, women refrain from these works. This is not only a serious challenge from the point of view of livelihood of families, it also has a psychologically negative effect on people.

Also, many people get psychological problems as a result of what they saw while participating in combat operations and need the support of psychologists. We have children from families who went through trauma during the war, and specialists work with them as well. In Goris, a very good cooperation has been formed between the municipality and non-governmental organizations, a referral mechanism works effectively, each family is given support depending on the nature of the problem.

– Taking into account the new challenges and difficulties, security-related problems that have arisen as a result of the war, what are you doing so that people do not despair and leave Goris?

– Although there are many security concerns in our community, life goes on. I am happy to report that we do not have families in the border settlements who left their homes. This is a very important circumstance that speaks of the patriotic spirit, people continue to live, create, develop, they have no intention of leaving their native community. This is really a very inspiring fact.

We, as the leadership of the community, are doing everything to help those living in the border areas. You implement economic and educational programs, we improve the infrastructures, we work with various international structures that implement small economy development programs. In short, we do everything possible so that people feel protected, safe, and continue to live in their land.

The people of Goris are quite strong, they have high resistance, they are people attached to their land and water, they do everything to build Goris. During the war, the women of the community were fully involved in the rear work.

More than once, you have raised the facts of the disruption of children’s education in the community due to the consequences of the war, what is the situation today?

– Yes, as you know, as a result of the occupation of our territories by the Azerbaijani armed forces, there is an alternative way to reach Vorotan, which is quite long. If in the past the children from Vorotan were able to reach Goris in a short time, attend sports, cultural and other extracurricular groups, now they are deprived of that opportunity.

In winter, the roads become impassable, these settlements are completely cut off from the outside world. We hope that this year the construction works will be finished in full, and we will not have that problem.

In addition, let me remind you that during the armed operations on September 13-14, civilians, civilian objects were targeted, schools were closed for several days, children were deprived of the right to education.

– At one time, within the framework of your social activities, you were involved in the implementation of women’s economic empowerment programs. How are women’s employment problems solved today in the extended community of Goris?

– Every settlement of the community has its own characteristics, its own problems. For example, in Verishen they are involved in textile production, there is an art center in which women are active in the work, a bean factory is currently being built in Khndzoresk, most of whose employees will be women. We have settlements where women’s job is to prepare dry goods, they are involved in agricultural and horticultural work, we have greenhouse farms.

– In Armenia, the number of women not only in the position of community heads, but also in the position of deputy community heads is very limited. Although there are many reasons, it is often said that it is a difficult job for a woman… Your job is even more difficult because you are the deputy mayor of a border community.

– In terms of the difficulty of the work, especially the responsibility, I think there is no gender problem. Now is a difficult time for our country, and the personal contribution of each of us is very important, when everyone, without discrimination, should realize the importance of their work, from the farmer who guards the border, cultivates his land, factory worker, kindergarten teacher to community leader and scientist. This approach should be not only in the border settlements, but also in the entire territory of the republic, only then the country will develop.

At the moment, I am responsible for improving the quality of people’s lives, I realize that importance, I try to do my job as well as possible…

H. Karapetyan

Full text in Armenian