A love story for Artsakh

It was July 21, 2023, when an Armenian couple from New York Astrid and Stephen decided to organize their first protest of many in front of the UN headquarters to express solidarity with the people of Artsakh. According to Orer.eu, Astrid and Stephen met in 2018 at St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Manhattan, New York, where Astrid was teaching Armenian to adults.

Stephen was among her first students. They quickly became friends. During a 44-day war in Artsakh, Stephen reached out to Astrid and asked for private tutoring. He wanted to help Armenia, but at first, he needed to learn the language. Astrid agreed to teach him, thus bringing the couple even closer. After the engagement, they founded a nonprofit organization and were actively involved in providing access to psychotherapy interventions for undeserved populations in Armenia.

Astrid and Stephen seek to bring foreign investment into the Armenian economy to create a safer Armenia.

“War makes us appreciate and value human life,” Astrid says.

After the Artsakh blockade, they keep protesting at the public entrance to the UN headquarters.

“Our people were protesting in front of the UN office in Yerevan with a demand to deliver food to the Artsakh population living under Azeri siege since December 2022. So, we decided to bring their voices to the UN headquarters in the United States,” Astrid says.

The couple heads towards the UN headquarters at around 5 p.m. every weekday, attracting many other individuals from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Astrid, Stephen and other protesters call on all Armenians living on the East Coast to join them in the name of the people of Artsakh. The rally will take place on August 20th at 12 p.m.