Nagorno-Karabakh
Soldier Maxim (age 20 - C) and his comrades patrol the border area with Azerbaijan - 300 m from the Azeri security point - in the Martakert military base situated on the Northeast borderline with Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Tigranakert castle-museum near to the city of Tigranakert, built by Armenian King Tigran the Great (Ist century), dating back to the Hellenistic period. According to historians there were 5 major cities built by Tigran the Great at various strategic positions throughout the Armenian Empire. Each of these cities was named after the king - Tigranakert. This one, named Tigranakert of Artsakh, occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh, four kilometers South of the Khachenaget River. Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing. Aghdam region, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenian ornaments discovered in the church ruins (Vth-VIIth centuries) near the city of Tigranakert, built by Armenian King Tigran the Great (Ist century), dating back to the Hellenistic period. According to historians there were 5 major cities built by Tigran the Great at various strategic positions throughout the Armenian Empire. Each of these cities was named after the king - Tigranakert. This one, named Tigranakert of Artsakh, occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh, four kilometers South of the Khachenaget River. Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing. Aghdam region, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenian ornaments discovered in the church ruins (Vth-VIIth centuries) near the city of Tigranakert, built by Armenian King Tigran the Great (Ist century), dating back to the Hellenistic period. According to historians there were 5 major cities built by Tigran the Great at various strategic positions throughout the Armenian Empire. Each of these cities was named after the king - Tigranakert. This one, named Tigranakert of Artsakh, occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh, four kilometers South of the Khachenaget River. Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing. Aghdam region, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Ancient church ruins (Vth-VIIth centuries) near the city of Tigranakert, built by Armenian King Tigran the Great (Ist century), dating back to the Hellenistic period. According to historians there were 5 major cities built by Tigran the Great at various strategic positions throughout the Armenian Empire. Each of these cities was named after the king - Tigranakert. This one, named Tigranakert of Artsakh, occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh, four kilometers South of the Khachenaget River. Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing. Aghdam region, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Ancient church ruins (Vth-VIIth centuries) near the city of Tigranakert, built by Armenian King Tigran the Great (Ist century), dating back to the Hellenistic period. According to historians there were 5 major cities built by Tigran the Great at various strategic positions throughout the Armenian Empire. Each of these cities was named after the king - Tigranakert. This one, named Tigranakert of Artsakh, occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh, four kilometers South of the Khachenaget River. Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing. Aghdam region, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.
Nagorno-Karabakh
A man watches the ruins of the ancient city of Tigranakert from the plateau of the Vanqasar church. According to historians there were 5 major cities built by Tigran the Great at various strategic positions throughout the Armenian Empire. Each of these cities was named after the king - Tigranakert. This one, named Tigranakert of Artsakh, occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh, four kilometers South of the Khachenaget River. Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing. Aghdam region, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.
Nagorno-Karabakh
The Church of Vanqasar is an VIIth century Armenian church near Tigranakert of Artsakh. According to historians there were 5 major cities built by Tigran the Great at various strategic positions throughout the Armenian Empire. Each of these cities was named after the king - Tigranakert. This one, named Tigranakert of Artsakh, occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh, four kilometers South of the Khachenaget River. Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing. Aghdam region, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.
Nagorno-Karabakh
The gate of Vanqasar church (VIIth century) near Tigranakert of Artsakh. According to historians there were 5 major cities built by Tigran the Great at various strategic positions throughout the Armenian Empire. Each of these cities was named after the king - Tigranakert. This one, named Tigranakert of Artsakh, occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh, four kilometers South of the Khachenaget River. Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing. Aghdam region, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Mayraberd Askeran Fortress (built 1751) is situated in the town of Askeran, 14 km East from Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is located on the banks of the Qarqar River and was built by the Karabakh khanate ruler Panah Ali Khan and consists of two sections. The left-bank section features a double line of stone walls - 2m thick and 9m tall. The walls of this vanguard fort of Karkar valley stretch over 1.5km and during the Nagorno-Karabakh War, the fortress served as the military headquarters for Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians fighting against Azerbaijan. Askeran, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.