Vahandukht Vardanyan is the only resident in Kharkov village, officially called Norshen in Armenia. Only a gorge separates the village from the ruins of Ani, a medieval Armenian capital now located within Turkey.
The 84 year old woman has been living in the village for the past 60 years. Norshen is situated on the Armenian-Turkish border, and been deserted because of its location.
Today, Armenia’s border with Turkey is guarded by Russian troops and lined with barbed wire fences, raked sand, and guard towers. For anyone to be able to enter the village, including its residents, it is necessary to obtain permission from Russian border guards.
