Martuni, Nagorno-Karabakh

Martuni
Country	De-jureAzerbaijan De-factoNagorno-Karabakh
Province Rayon	Martuni Khojavend
Population  (2005)
• Total	4,878
Time zone	UTC+4 (UTC)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+5 (UTC)
Area code	(+374) 478

Martuni (Armenian: Մարտունի; called Khojavend (Azerbaijani: Xocavənd) by Azerbaijan) is a town and the provincial capital of the Martuni province of the de facto independent but unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. It is located approximately 41 kilometers east of the republic's capital of Stepanakert. Its population according to the 2005 census stands at 4878.

History

Excavations in Martuni have uncovered a number of tombs dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Martuni is also home to several ruined medieval churches and remains of settlements, and khachkars have also been preserved.

During Soviet times, Martuni was the capital of the eponymous district located in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. The population of the town, grouped into kolkhozes, largely occupied itself with raising livestock, grape growing, wheat cultivation, and gardening.

Martuni, and the district itself, became a frontline city during the latter stages of the Nagorno-Karabakh War. In early February 1992, Vazgen Sargsyan, the then Defence Minister of Armenia, appointed Monte Melkonian as Chief of Headquarters and assigned him to lead the defense of Martuni and the surrounding regions. Melkonian, who remained as regional commander until he was killed in combat in June 1993, and the forces under him were able to halt and prevent the Azerbaijani military from occupying the district throughout the entirety of the war.

Melkonian's role in Martuni's defense was pivotal, and a large statue in the middle of the town's square was erected in his honor and his headquarters was converted into a hospital and named after him (Avo Hospital). In the years following the conclusion of the war, residents have been making an effort to revitalize the grape growing business and wine industry.