Vaghuhas

Vaghuhas or Gozlu is a village located in the Aghdara District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until 2023 it was controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh. The village 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.

History

During the Soviet period, the village was a part of the Mardakert District of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.
According to civilian reports, during the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani soldiers entered the village and forcibly demanded that its entire Armenian population leave while firing their weapons in the air.

Historical heritage sites

Historical heritage sites in and around the village include the ruins of the ancient Armenian settlement of Mayrakahag, including the Tiramayr Monastery built in 1183, an 8th/9th-century chapel, a 12th/13th-century cemetery, the monastery of Khatravank built in 1204, the monastery of Karmiravan built in 1224, also known as the Red Monastery – Karmir Vank, Կարմիր վանք, and the medieval village of Hin Vaghuhas.

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, a secondary school, seven shops, and a medical centre.

Demographics

The village had 638 inhabitants in 2005, and 678 inhabitants in 2015.