Aghbulag

Aghbulag is a village in the Novo-Bayazid uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Chambarak (Krasnoselsk) district, and currently in the Gegharkunik province. The provincial centre lies 68 km to the northeast from the town of Kavar (Gavar), at a height of 2,150 m above sea level. It was mentioned in “The Iravan Province Review Book” and marked on the five-verst map of the Caucasus.

The village was solely inhabited by 136 Azerbaijanis in 1831, 422 in 1873, 575 in 1886, 940 in 1908, 982 in 1914 and 1,329 Azerbaijanis in 1919. In February-March 1919 the inhabitants of the village were ousted by Armenians. The surviving Azerbaijanis returned to their native soil after the establishment of Soviet power in the present-day Armenian territory. The village was solely inhabited by Azerbaijanis – 1,053 in 1922, 1,229 in 1926, 1,392 in 1931, 1,504 in 1939, 1,141 in 1959, 1,563 in 1970 and 1,450 Azerbaijanis in 1979. On 24-28 November 1988 the population of the village was brutally driven out by the Armenian state from their historical-ethnic territories between 1 and 3 AM. At present, Armenians live there.

The toponym was coined from the word “agh” meaning “drinkable, of high quality” and the hydronym “bulag” (Azerbaijani: spring). The 17th-18th- century historical monuments still remain upon the territory of the village.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 3 April 1991, the village was renamed “Aghberk”. According to the law “On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia” dated 7 November 1995, it was integrated into the administrative area of the Gegharkunik province.

Geographic coordinates: latitude: 40°31′ 47” N., longitude: 45°16′ 46”E.