ways

After a ten-month blockade, on September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a military operation in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (the Republic of Artsakh). The goal of this operation was to gain control over the territory of the republic and annex it to Azerbaijan. Artsakh lacked the resources to resist Azerbaijan in this conflict. Physically and morally exhausted soldiers, without sufficient army supplies, faced a powerful army that had been preparing for this operation for months. The result was capitulation, which occurred just one day after the start of the conflict. In the following days, more than 100,000 Armenians left their homes out of fear of ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan, which gained control of the republic. They all headed towards the only humanitarian corridor to Armenia. Goris was the first city on the path of thousands of refugees.

From the first day of the new conflict, protests engulfed Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The focal point of all the protests was Republic Square, where the Government building is located. Initially, these were spontaneous gatherings of people. Enduring stress from the new war and worrying about relatives and friends in the territory of Artsakh, people found solace in expressing their emotions in the square. Opposition political leaders and movements quickly joined them. A stage for speakers was set up in the square every evening, protest leaders emerged, and the actions of the protesters became coordinated and deliberate. Within a day, the protests transitioned from spontaneous gatherings in front of the building to marches, road blockades, and clashes with the police. Gradually, the sentiment of the protesters shifted from “for Artsakh” to “against the government” more strongly. 

While protesters plunged the city into chaos, volunteers from all over the country organized to provide assistance, and refugees began arriving in Armenia. From the very beginning, it became clear that regardless of the outcome, Armenia would need a tremendous amount of resources to help those affected by the new war. Numerous charitable foundations launched efforts to collect humanitarian aid and recruit volunteers for various tasks. These foundations undertook different initiatives: gathering clothing, food, medicine, arranging accommodation, transportation, and mobilizing volunteer doctors to provide medical assistance.

 These events divided part of the active population into two camps. The first saw the problem in the government, and their solution to this problem was mass protests and clashes with the police. The second were preparing to receive refugees. While protests thundered through the streets of Yerevan, and volunteers in the courtyards were gathering food, clothing, and medical supplies, the first refugees began arriving in the border town of Goris. 

Two completely different worlds emerged in Armenia. While people in the capital’s main square were chanting protest slogans, inspired by the belief in imminent change, on the other side of the country, in the central square of a small town on the border of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, thousands of refugees were sitting, for whom the future did not seem bright.  


The road was blocked by a broken stall. Columns of protesters marched through the city, disrupting traffic. Most often, they would obstruct the road for a few minutes before moving on, leaving behind overturned trash bins, stalls, and anything else at hand to impede movement
The road was blocked by a broken stall. Columns of protesters marched through the city, disrupting traffic. Most often, they would obstruct the road for a few minutes before moving on, leaving behind overturned trash bins, stalls, and anything else at hand to impede movement
Essential items at the humanitarian aid collection point. While people brought goods and food to the collection points, volunteers sorted, stacked, and loaded aid for the refugees
Essential items at the humanitarian aid collection point. While people brought goods and food to the collection points, volunteers sorted, stacked, and loaded aid for the refugees
People are holding one of the protesters to prevent the police from apprehending him
People are holding one of the protesters to prevent the police from apprehending him
Volunteers are holding and labeling a box of essential items, organizing the loading of the vehicle in the correct order for the convenient unloading of various items
Volunteers are holding and labeling a box of essential items, organizing the loading of the vehicle in the correct order for the convenient unloading of various items
An overturned trash bin, placed by the protesters to block the traffic in the city
An overturned trash bin, placed by the protesters to block the traffic in the city
Garbage bags are being used to store donated clothing. The label on the bag reads "Women's. Warm."
Garbage bags are being used to store donated clothing. The label on the bag reads "Women's. Warm."
The protesters are breaking iron street barriers to use them in clashes with the police
The protesters are breaking iron street barriers to use them in clashes with the police
Volunteers are loading a truck with humanitarian aid
Volunteers are loading a truck with humanitarian aid
Police officers near the government building are using shields to protect themselves from the rocks and bottles being thrown by the protesters
Police officers near the government building are using shields to protect themselves from the rocks and bottles being thrown by the protesters
Volunteers have gathered medicines donated by people for the foundation
Volunteers have gathered medicines donated by people for the foundation
The bus driver greets the protesters who have blocked the road. He also joins them, positioning his bus across the traffic
The bus driver greets the protesters who have blocked the road. He also joins them, positioning his bus across the traffic
A car loaded onto a truck with other belongings. Drivers who had their own trucks tried to help evacuate as many people and belongings as possible from Artsakh. People cooperated and traveled in truck beds and trailers with their entire families
A car loaded onto a truck with other belongings. Drivers who had their own trucks tried to help evacuate as many people and belongings as possible from Artsakh. People cooperated and traveled in truck beds and trailers with their entire families
The protesters are arguing with the police in front of the government building at Republic Square.
The protesters are arguing with the police in front of the government building at Republic Square.
Refugees who arrived in the back of a truck from Artsakh are unloading their belongings in front of the Drama Theater building
Refugees who arrived in the back of a truck from Artsakh are unloading their belongings in front of the Drama Theater building
A column of protesters is moving through the city. Cars with loudspeakers, megaphones, and opposition speakers on the roof have become a common sight at the protests in these days
A column of protesters is moving through the city. Cars with loudspeakers, megaphones, and opposition speakers on the roof have become a common sight at the protests in these days
A car from the column of refugees that arrived in Goris from Artsakh. Strapped to its roof are spare tires, a baby stroller, and a bicycle
A car from the column of refugees that arrived in Goris from Artsakh. Strapped to its roof are spare tires, a baby stroller, and a bicycle
A young man sits on the road, blocking traffic for vehicles during the night-time street blockades
A young man sits on the road, blocking traffic for vehicles during the night-time street blockades
People who arrived in the back of a truck sit with their belongings on the roadside leading to the refugee reception center
People who arrived in the back of a truck sit with their belongings on the roadside leading to the refugee reception center
Protesters gather at Republic Square in front of the government building, blocking traffic throughout the square
Protesters gather at Republic Square in front of the government building, blocking traffic throughout the square
Refugees are gathered at the entrance of a telecommunications company office. Following the arrival of refugees, several telecommunications companies announced that they would provide free communication services to all those in need
Refugees are gathered at the entrance of a telecommunications company office. Following the arrival of refugees, several telecommunications companies announced that they would provide free communication services to all those in need
The police are defending themselves during clashes with protesters near the government building
The police are defending themselves during clashes with protesters near the government building
The military and police are guarding the entrance to the distribution center for refugees organized in the drama theater
The military and police are guarding the entrance to the distribution center for refugees organized in the drama theater
A man is addressing the protesters
A man is addressing the protesters
A man is unloading belongings of refugees from a truck
A man is unloading belongings of refugees from a truck
Students participating in the protests sit on the blocked road, preventing cars from passing. On the day following the start of the protests, a multitude of students joined the strikes in educational institutions. They took to the streets and participated in street actions
Students participating in the protests sit on the blocked road, preventing cars from passing. On the day following the start of the protests, a multitude of students joined the strikes in educational institutions. They took to the streets and participated in street actions
Two children sit at the entrance of the distribution center across from a UN vehicle. Volunteers have gathered a multitude of toys and sweets specifically for the children. The children from Artsakh were under blockade for over 10 months, and there was a shortage of various things, including sweets, in the republic
Two children sit at the entrance of the distribution center across from a UN vehicle. Volunteers have gathered a multitude of toys and sweets specifically for the children. The children from Artsakh were under blockade for over 10 months, and there was a shortage of various things, including sweets, in the republic
A woman at the protests holds an overturned and crossed-out portrait of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan
A woman at the protests holds an overturned and crossed-out portrait of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan
A woman is receiving humanitarian aid from volunteers in Goris
A woman is receiving humanitarian aid from volunteers in Goris
Police are holding a man who is arguing with the protesters. Not all protesters agreed on what should be done and how. Conflicts often arose among them
Police are holding a man who is arguing with the protesters. Not all protesters agreed on what should be done and how. Conflicts often arose among them
A man is hugging a child near the distribution center. Due to the ten-month blockade of Artsakh, many families were only reunited after the Armenians started leaving the republic
A man is hugging a child near the distribution center. Due to the ten-month blockade of Artsakh, many families were only reunited after the Armenians started leaving the republic
The protesters are clashing with the police near the government building
The protesters are clashing with the police near the government building
Refugees and volunteers are unloading belongings from a truck that arrived from Artsakh in front of the theater building
Refugees and volunteers are unloading belongings from a truck that arrived from Artsakh in front of the theater building
The protesters are marching down a street lined with numerous bars and restaurants, calling on people to join the protests in support of Artsakh
The protesters are marching down a street lined with numerous bars and restaurants, calling on people to join the protests in support of Artsakh
Arriving refugees are leaving the registration center in Goris
Arriving refugees are leaving the registration center in Goris

This project has no place for judgment or evaluation of people’s actions. There is only a desire to show how different people’s perspectives and solutions to a problem can be.