"The Twentieth Spring" - A portrait of Shushi. A Caucasian town 20 years after its so called "Liberation" by Armenian fighters. In its more than two centuries old history Shushi was ruled by different powers like Armenians, Persians, Russian or Aseris. In 1991 a fierce battle for Karabakhs independence began to separate it from Azerbaijan. During the breakdown of Soviet Union, Armenians didn't want to live within the Republic of Azerbaijan anymore. 1992 armenian soldiers...
more »"The Twentieth Spring" - A portrait of Shushi. A Caucasian town 20 years after its so called "Liberation" by Armenian fighters. In its more than two centuries old history Shushi was ruled by different powers like Armenians, Persians, Russian or Aseris. In 1991 a fierce battle for Karabakhs independence began to separate it from Azerbaijan. During the breakdown of Soviet Union, Armenians didn't want to live within the Republic of Azerbaijan anymore. 1992 armenian soldiers managed to capture "ancient Armenian Shushi". They pushed out remaining Aseri forces which had operate a rocket launch base there to bomb Karabakhs capital Stepanakert, located beneath Shushi in a valley. Since then Shushi became an "Armenian town" again. Today, 20 years after the statement of Karabakhs independence Shushi try to find it's opportunities for it's future. The less populated town is still affected by devastation and ruins by Shushis violent history. Today's life is prevalent a daily struggle for many inhabitants to get expenses covered, caused by a lack of jobs and almost no perspective for a sustainable economic development. Shushi depends on donations by diasporas Armenians. On the other hand those donations have made it possible to rebuild a cultural centre, restored new asphalt roads and other infrastructure projects. 20 years after Shushis fall into Armenian hands Babies get born and daily life develops slow but constantly. However people still don't want to be under Aseris rule ever again. The bloody early 1990´s civil war has moved into the trenches of the frontline 20 kilometers away from Shushi where it stuck since 1994, leaving annually dozens of dead soldiers and civilians. The Karabakh conflict is still not solved and could turn again to an open war any day. Nonetheless life goes on the south Caucasian rocky tip in mountainous region of Karabakh where Shushi enthrones ever since
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