Chartar


Guneychartar is a village in the Khojavend District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until 2023 it was controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh. The town had an ethnic Armenian-majority population until the expulsion of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan following the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Etymology

The name Chartar is of Armenian origin, meaning "dexterous, crafty".

History

The area of Chartar is one of ancient Armenian settlement, being home to various monasteries, churches, and khachkars from the 12th-19th centuries. Traditionally, it was part of the diocese of the Amaras Monastery. The modern town was populated by Armenians mostly from Agulis, Maghavuz, and Khachen. The town of Chartar was created out of a merger of the four villages of Ghuze Chartar, Ghuze Kaler, Gyune Chartar and Gyune Kaler.
During the Soviet period, the town was a part of the Martuni District of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.

Historical and cultural heritage

Historical heritage sites in and around Chartar include Chartar Fortress, the Kohak Church, the St. Yeghishe Church from 1655, the church of Surb Amenaprkich founded in 1787, and the 19th-century
St. George's Church. The St. Vardanank Church was consecrated in 2018 in Chartar.

Economy and culture

The population is mainly engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. As of 2015, the village has a municipal building, a house of culture, five schools, an art school, two kindergartens, nine shops, a hospital, and a medical centre.

Demographics

According to the Caucasian calendar for 1910, the population of the village by 1908 was 2,757 people, mostly Armenians. By the beginning of 1914, 2,350 inhabitants were recorded, also predominantly Armenians.
Chartar had 3,951 inhabitants in 2005, and 4,100 inhabitants in 2015.

Notable people