Galaser

Galaser is a village in the Sharur-Daralayaz uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Keshishkend (Yeghegnadzor) district, and currently in the Vayots Dzor province. It lies to the west of the Aysasi valley, at a height of 1,990 m above sea level.

The village was solely inhabited by Azerbaijanis: 108 in 1873, 154 in 1886, 184 in 1897, 154 in 1904, 170 in 1914 and 248 Azerbaijanis in 1916. In 1918 the villagers were exposed to aggression by Armenian armed forces and deported. Following the establishment of Soviet power in present-day Armenia, the surviving Azerbaijanis managed to return to their lands. The village was solely inhabited by Azerbaijanis: 46 in 1922, 104 in 1926, 142 in 1931, 195 in 1939, 140 in 1959, 222 in 1970 and 252 Azerbaijanis in 1979. In late November 1988, the Azerbaijanis were deported from the village by the Armenian government.

The toponym was coined by combining the word “gala” (a fortress) and the word “sar” used in Turkish toponymy to mean “main, head, upper, greater”.

According to the law “On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia” dated 7 November 1995, it was integrated into the administrative territory of the Vayots Dzor province.

Geographical coordinates: latitude: 39°53’ N., longitude: 45°25’ E.