Gushchu is a village in the Sharur-Daralayaz uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Pashali (Azizbeyov, Vayk) district, in the Vayots Dzor province. It lies 3 km to the south of the town of Istisu (Jermuk), on the left bank of the Arpachay, at a height of 1,970 m above sea level. It is marked as “Gushchu kharabasi” in “The Iravan Province Review Book”, and as “Gushi” on the five-verst map of the Caucasus.

The village was inhabited by 631 Azerbaijanis in 1897 and three Azerbaijanis in 1926. In 1905- 1906 the Azerbaijanis were massively deported from the village.

The toponym was coined on the basis of the ancient Turkic ethnonym “Gushchu”.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 12 November 1946, the village was renamed “Kechud”. 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°47’ N., longitude: 45°39’ E.