The fall of Togh
The winery «Kataro» and economic losses of the Togh
During the independence of Artsakh, the village of Togh was known not only as the former residence of Armenian Meliks (a title of nobility) but also as a separate tourist destination and especially the homeland of the famous Kataro wines. In 2020, the winery worked even during the war.
The villagers also continued their work. Before the start of the war, grain was collected there, it was stored and remained that way, without turning into bread. The stock of Kataro wine also was left there, under the control of the Azerbaijanis.
After the war, "Kataro" is trying to recover by restoring the economy of the villagers with it.
The villagers also continued their work. Before the start of the war, grain was collected there, it was stored and remained that way, without turning into bread. The stock of Kataro wine also was left there, under the control of the Azerbaijanis.
After the war, "Kataro" is trying to recover by restoring the economy of the villagers with it.
Andranik is a winemaker at the Kataro winery located in the village of Togh in the Hadrut region of Artsakh.
“On the night of September 27, we were awakened by an explosion. I thought it was a refrigerator. Then there was the second blow. I saw smoke from the window towards Mount Tutak. Tutak is a mountain east of the village of Togh, on the side of the front line,” says Manvelyan.
He understood that the war had begun. He went to the factory and sent the two female workers home, and stayed with the others to decide what to do next.
“On the night of September 27, we were awakened by an explosion. I thought it was a refrigerator. Then there was the second blow. I saw smoke from the window towards Mount Tutak. Tutak is a mountain east of the village of Togh, on the side of the front line,” says Manvelyan.
He understood that the war had begun. He went to the factory and sent the two female workers home, and stayed with the others to decide what to do next.
We will go and kick them out …
“We all got together around 10. We opened a bottle of "Kataro Reserve 2015" and raised a toast to our guys who are now fighting for us. The mobilization has already begun. But in the afternoon we set to work because the work was such that if you do not continue, the wine will go bad.
"Kataro" during the war
But there were no workers. almost all of them were mobilized and went to the front line. There were two workers left, himself and his colleague, who was unfit for service.
“For half a day he went and loaded weapons in a warehouse (there was an armory in Togh, ed.), the second half he came tired and worked with me. We stayed until 9-10 pm, started in the morning, and went home in the evening. I was alone and couldn't cope, he even brought me food from home," says Andranik.
“For half a day he went and loaded weapons in a warehouse (there was an armory in Togh, ed.), the second half he came tired and worked with me. We stayed until 9-10 pm, started in the morning, and went home in the evening. I was alone and couldn't cope, he even brought me food from home," says Andranik.
The factory continued working like that until October 11.
"So what? Are they going to reach Hadrut?"
"People stayed in the village until 10-11 of October. No one took out such things as goods or anything else. They were like – "So what? Are they going to reach Hadrut?" Andranik remembers.
From the beginning of October, the Jrakan hospital relocated to Togh. Andranik went there several times. He thought that maybe there was a need for something, any assistance. There he realized as well that something was wrong when he talked to the injured soldiers.
One of the soldiers said that they didn't even participate in the battle, "there was no one to lead us". The ground covered them when the projectile of the "Smerch" exploded nearby.
One of the soldiers said that they didn't even participate in the battle, "there was no one to lead us". The ground covered them when the projectile of the "Smerch" exploded nearby.
What they left
10 thousand bottles of wine, the famous name of the wine, and their memories. This is the only thing they brought with them when they evacuated from Togh.
“The rest is left: production equipment, bottled and draft wine, uncultivated vineyards, everything,” says Andranik.
The founder of wines "Kataro" Grigory Avetisyan never talks about what he has lost, and does not put up with the fact of loss.
“The rest is left: production equipment, bottled and draft wine, uncultivated vineyards, everything,” says Andranik.
The founder of wines "Kataro" Grigory Avetisyan never talks about what he has lost, and does not put up with the fact of loss.
Grigori Avetisyan, the founder of the winery
The losses of the villagers
The head of the village Vardan Grigoryan says that they had about 330 hectares of arable land, where wheat and barley were grown. A total of 20 hectares were occupied by the Kataro vineyards, and another 70 hectares were cultivated by residents. There were also pastures.
“There were 812 inhabitants in the village. They were engaged in small and medium-size businesses, mainly agriculture and animal husbandry,” says the head of the village.
Grigoryan also provides data on the number of livestock. With some differences, the Ministry Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Artsakh cite the same data.
“There were 812 inhabitants in the village. They were engaged in small and medium-size businesses, mainly agriculture and animal husbandry,” says the head of the village.
Grigoryan also provides data on the number of livestock. With some differences, the Ministry Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Artsakh cite the same data.
Economic losses of the Togh
280 residential houses
588 head of cattle
189 head of sheep
1627 pigs
8302 birds
584 beehive
How to be creative
Lost agricultural machinery of the villagers
The villagers also lost a large amount of agricultural machinery. As a result of the fall of the village, 155 units of agricultural equipment belonging to the villagers remained under the control of Azerbaijan. Of these: 13 combines, 31 tractors, etc.
According to the head of the village of Togh, only a small part of agricultural machinery was taken out during the war. Most of them remained with the Azerbaijanis.
The villagers also lost a large amount of agricultural machinery. As a result of the fall of the village, 155 units of agricultural equipment belonging to the villagers remained under the control of Azerbaijan. Of these: 13 combines, 31 tractors, etc.
According to the head of the village of Togh, only a small part of agricultural machinery was taken out during the war. Most of them remained with the Azerbaijanis.
Taxes paid by Kataro
However, the largest farm in the village was "Kataro" winery. In 2021, "Kataro" was no longer among major taxpayers in Artsakh.
However, the largest farm in the village was "Kataro" winery. In 2021, "Kataro" was no longer among major taxpayers in Artsakh.
Other material losses
Also, there was a loss of already harvested grain, which was stored in silos, as well as petrol stations, where a large amount of fuel remained.
Both belonged to Armo (Aramais) Avetisyan, who is the brother of "Kataro" founder Grigory Avetisyan. He tells how the Armenian tanks were refueled and shows the video.
Both belonged to Armo (Aramais) Avetisyan, who is the brother of "Kataro" founder Grigory Avetisyan. He tells how the Armenian tanks were refueled and shows the video.
According to Avetisyan, as of October 20, 88,000 liters of diesel fuel remained in the petrol station.
In addition to fuel, a huge amount of stored grain belonging to Avetisyan was left there. According to Avetisyan, only 170 tons of grain remained in his warehouse. It was his own wheat after the harvest. As to Avetisyan, he used to grow 70-75 hectares of wheat.
In addition to fuel, a huge amount of stored grain belonging to Avetisyan was left there. According to Avetisyan, only 170 tons of grain remained in his warehouse. It was his own wheat after the harvest. As to Avetisyan, he used to grow 70-75 hectares of wheat.
«Կատարոյի» նոր գործարանը
Despite the losses of the war, Kataro is being restored. It is symbolic that the factory will work in the same volume and with the same staff in Armenia. They decided to hire their employees who moved to Armenia and other people from Togh. Part of the grapes is also purchased in Artsakh.
Since September 2021, the production of “Kataro” wine with the same personnel and the same sort of grapes has been established in the village of Dzoraghbyur, Kotayk region.
Since September 2021, the production of “Kataro” wine with the same personnel and the same sort of grapes has been established in the village of Dzoraghbyur, Kotayk region.
The fall of Togh
Other stories of the project
- Togh as a principalityThe history of the principality village, its significance for Artsakh and Armenia.
- One-day battle for the villageOne-day battle for Togh and the fall of the village in 2020 Artsakh War
- The fate of the people of ToghThe displacement of the villagers, their fates and current livelihood.
