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Armenia Internally Displaced All Galleries
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Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel

30 images Created 20 Dec 2021

This is my 4th return to the Soviet Hotel in Metsamor. Entering the Hotel reception look more like you're entering an abandoned barn. The hotel facilities are abandoned. But, looks like the gov in Armenia found it useful to offer shelter for its internally displaced people due to the armed conflict with Azerbaijan in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh.
The hotel might be comfortable to be living there for a couple of days as a tourist, but not that easy when you're set to temporarily but somehow permanently live there and have got nowhere to go. As soon as you enter the suite where IDPs are sheltered there's a tiny toilet and bathroom on your left or right-hand side, and then you're straight onto the bedroom, which you might as well turn into an uncomfortable living room. Walls are painted in a malt colour, which is pretty much a paled yellow colour, which slowly lurks into dark brown. Dishes, food supplies, and other kitchen-related appliances lay everywhere around the living, sleeping and resting room. In general, the Soviet Hotel interior environment gives a gloomy impression with mould in the corridors and water flowing pretty much everywhere.
"It does impact our mental wellbeing" Lena reacted when I asked how does the environment make them feel. "It feels like another warfare within" she added laying down her eyes as she sighs.

"But it is not all that bad, we've got relatives who visit us" Valery intervened while he was listening to the conversation and flipping through his Maths book. They say that they get to be visited by relatives that live in Armenia, although they miss their interactive family gathering weekends because now, they live in a one-room compared to a few rooms spacious house they lived in before the war and family gatherings are no longer possible. However, considering that now it is possible that their daughter will attend school, they said that it is better here, and for the time being they spend a lot of time talking to their relative loved ones on the telephone.
But, for Valery, if there is an improvement of conditions back in Martakert, they’d return in the first light, but for now, their home in Martakert is by the frontline bordering Azerbaijan armed forces who captured most of the territory of the self-proclaimed republic of Artsakh, and they are afraid of safety.
Valery is 73 years of age and Lena is 69, they are Parents to one daughter 14 years of age.
They're from Martakert, which is a town de facto in the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh as the administrative capital of its Martakert Province, but de jure in the Tartar District of Azerbaijan. The town has an ethnic Armenian-majority population, and also had an Armenian majority in 1989. But now, as is the case with Valery and Lena, many others like them were forced to flee and conditioned to live as Internally Displaced due to the September 2020 44 days of war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
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  • Lena (R) is a 69 years old mother of a daughter 14, and wife to Valery (L) 73 both in the picture, are photographed in their suite of Soviet Hotel in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances laid down aside in Valery and Lena's bedroom of the Soviet Hotel suite in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Lena (R) is a 69 years old mother of a daughter 14, and wife to Valery (L) 73 both in the picture, are photographed in their suite of Soviet Hotel in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows details of one of the bedrooms used by one of the internally displaced families of 5 children in one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
At least 143 civilians were killed on both sides and tens of thousands more were displaced by the fighting in the 44 days of the war in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020 according to both governments involved in the armed conflict. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a barbie doll laying on a bed in the bedroom of one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
At least 143 civilians were killed on both sides and tens of thousands more were displaced by the fighting in the 44 days of the war in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020 according to both governments involved in the armed conflict. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a schoolbag of a child laying next to the kitchen appliances in the bedroom of one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
At least 143 civilians were killed on both sides and tens of thousands more were displaced by the fighting in the 44 days of the war in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020 according to both governments involved in the armed conflict. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Valery (L) 73 father of a daughter 14 (not in picture) and husband to Lena (R) 69 years of age both in the picture are photographed in their suite of Soviet Hotel in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows the Maths book laying on the table inside the bedroom of Valery, 73 years old father, who was using it to prepare maths exercises for his 14 years old daughter with whom they're living since December 1st 2020 in Soviet Hotel suite in Metsamor, photographed on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows details of one of the bedrooms used by one of the internally displaced families of 5 children in one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
At least 143 civilians were killed on both sides and tens of thousands more were displaced by the fighting in the 44 days of the war in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020 according to both governments involved in the armed conflict. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows details of one of the bedrooms used by one of the internally displaced families of 5 children in one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
At least 143 civilians were killed on both sides and tens of thousands more were displaced by the fighting in the 44 days of the war in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020 according to both governments involved in the armed conflict. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances in the bedroom of one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a schoolbag of a child laying next to the kitchen appliances in the bedroom of one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
At least 143 civilians were killed on both sides and tens of thousands more were displaced by the fighting in the 44 days of the war in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020 according to both governments involved in the armed conflict. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances in the bedroom of one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances in the bedroom of one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Lena is a 69 years old mother of a daughter 14, and wife to Valery 73, is photographed in a bedroom of one of her friends in Soviet Hotel in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Valery 73 father of a daughter 14 (not in picture) and husband to Lena (not in picture) reacts as I photographed in his suite of Soviet Hotel in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Lena is a 69 years old mother of a daughter 14, and wife to Valery 73, is photographed sitting next to her Kitchen appliances in her Soviet Hotel suite in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Valery (L) 73 father of a daughter 14 (not in picture) and husband to Lena (R) 69 years of age both in the picture are photographed in their suite of Soviet Hotel in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Lena (R) is a 69 years old mother of a daughter 14, and wife to Valery (L) 73 both in the picture, are photographed in their suite of Soviet Hotel in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Lena (R) is a 69 years old mother of a daughter 14, and wife to Valery (L) 73 both in the picture, are photographed in their suite of Soviet Hotel in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances laid down aside in Valery and Lena's bedroom of the Soviet Hotel suite in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances laid down aside in Valery and Lena's bedroom of the Soviet Hotel suite in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances laid down aside in Valery and Lena's bedroom of the Soviet Hotel suite in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances in the bedroom of one of the Soviet Hotel suites in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Lena is a 69 years old mother of a daughter 14, and wife to Valery 73, is photographed sitting on her bed in her Soviet Hotel suite in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances laid down aside in Valery and Lena's bedroom of the Soviet Hotel suite in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • A general picture shows a detailed overview of the kitchen appliances laid down aside in Valery and Lena's bedroom of the Soviet Hotel suite in Metsamor on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. <br />
The USSR Soviet Hotel facilities are being used by the Armenian Gov to shelter internally displaced people of Armenia due to the 44 days of armed conflict in the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh that saw Armenian armed forces defeated in October 2020. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Lena (R front) is a 69 years old mother of a daughter 14 (not in picture), and wife to Valery (L back in the picture) 73 both in the picture, are photographed in their suite of Soviet Hotel in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
  • Lena is a 69 years old mother of a daughter 14, and wife to Valery 73, is photographed in Soviet Hotel's hallway in Metsamor, Armenia on Sunday, Jan 31, 2021. (VX Photo/ Vudi Xhymshiti)
    Internally Displaced in Soviet Hotel...jpg
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