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ANCIENT VILLAGE GROWING YOUNGER

Kichan village of the Martakert region has a peculiarity - it is one of the oldest villages in Artsakh that is growing younger.

 There are 200 residents and 40 farms in Kichan. During the pre-war years, there were 45 families with 165 residents. During the Soviet era, Kichan had a joint farming with the Azerbaijani village of Srkhavend. The year of 1988 released Kichan from that unpleasant subordination.

 There is almost no housing problem in Kichan. Young families are provided with houses. The Cilicia district, built with the joint efforts of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia and our Government, contributed to this. There are 30 houses built here for young families. According to the head of the community, thanks to the Government support, all the families of deceased and disabled servicemen, as well as freedom fighters are provided with houses. 

There are many large families in the village. Currently, a house is being built in the village for a family having 6 children. There are 6 families with 4 children, as well as those having 5 or 6 children.

There is no outflow in the village. The head of the community noted only a family, which had moved to Nerkin Horatagh for working at the Kashken mining factory.

Even during the Artsakh War, when the village fell under the enemy's control for two days and was completely burnt, its residents had to leave it, but did not go too far - they settled in the neighboring villages, and the most distanced place was the town of Stepanakert. Only five families left Karabakh. The others returned after the village was liberated. In general, the community is united here.

A typical tradition is being formed in Kichan. Vardan Khachatryan, a grandson of a Kichan-born resident of Russia, built two new houses for his relatives, thanks to which one person has returned from Russia and lives in the village. Another resident of Russia restored his grandmother's house. Currently, the village is reconstructed at 90 percent, and the rest are the houses, the owners of which are outside Karabakh.

All the living conditions exist in the village. The most important thing is that it is supplied with drinking water. The water system was fully renovated here in 1968 under the patronage of native of Kichan living in Russia, Vardan Khachatryan. 

The village has a celebrations palace built via the state budget funding. 

But, there are also some problems in the village. The head of the community noted, in particular, the lack of kindergartens. There are about 25 small children in the village. The school building is also small. 

 We believe, among the advantages of the village is its leader, Garik Sargsyan. He was the only candidate at all the elections of the community leader. He is a participant of the Artsakh War. Nine residents of Kichan deceased during the war. 

After the war, the inhabitants of the village started its rehabilitation. In 1994, the school started operating. In 1997, a new school building was constructed. Currently, it comprises 70 pupils. 

During the April War, the village also united. Men aged of 45-50 were at the frontline, while the schoolchildren, aged 10 and older,  brought wooden logs from the forests and sent them to the defensive lines. The community leader is also the Chairman of the Freedom Fighters Union in the village. He raised the issue of building an office for the Union. 

Finally, Mr. Sargsyan noted the poor broadcasting of TV channels and asked to contribute to the resolution of the issue.