Yerevan club Poligraf raising funds to support displaced families from Nagorno-Karabakh region
- PublishedWed, Sep 27, 2023, 09:00
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- Thousands of resident ethnic Armenians have fled the disputed region after the Azerbaijani military reclaimed control last week.
- Poligraf, a club in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, is raising funds to help the thousands of people that have been forcibly displaced from the war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh region. Poligraf made the announcement yesterday, September 26th, via Instagram, pledging to donate a portion of the proceeds from this weekend's events to those displaced following Azerbaijan's military offensive. "The recent aggression by Azerbaijan has resulted in a significant exodus of people seeking safety and shelter," the post read. "Poligraf has always aimed to be a safe space for people to come together, socialise and find solace. We believe that during times of adversity, such spaces are essential to maintaining our collective well-being." At least 30,000 of the 120,000 resident ethnic Armenians have fled Nagorno-Karabakh after the Azerbaijani military reclaimed control of the disputed region last week, the BBC reports. Many more are expected to follow in the coming days. As people were attempting to flee on Monday, September 25th, at least 68 people died from a fuel blast. Another 105 people are missing and 290 others are wounded. Before last week's offensive, Azerbaijan had been blockading the Republic of Artsakh—the breakaway majority-Armenian area of the region—since December of last year. Doing so was in violation of international legal rulings and the 2020 ceasefire agreement between the two nations. Poligraf's post yesterday was the latest in a string of recent announcements addressing the situation. Previous posts pledged to contribute to Armenia's "well-being and financial stability" and urged the international clubbing community to boycott "any artists, clubs or cultural entities associated with Azerbaijan." Speaking to Resident Advisor, Poligraf's head of communications, Harmik Mackertoomian, said the club is also aiming to "ensure the preservation and promotion" of Armenian cultural heritage. "We're working towards bringing Armenian talent abroad to showcase our scene," he said. "It's especially important during these challenging times when the club scene is heavily compromised and criticised." Launched in April 2019, Poligraf is Yerevan's most prominent techno club. It was forced to close earlier this year following a violent police raid, but reopened the following week. This weekend's parties include sets from Karina Saakyan, hessIless and hofmann. Browse the event listings below. Read Poligraf's recent posts addressing the conflict.
- Fri, Sep 29, 2023
Fundraising Weekend
Karina Saakyan, hessIless, hofmann (AM)