This year, the village of Azatamut in Tavush Province is celebrating the 55th anniversary of its founding. Although it is officially classified as a village, its appearance—with apartment buildings and cottages—resembles that of a town.
Azatamut was established in 1970 as a settlement built around a bentonite clay factory. Initially, it was named after the settlement adjacent to the factory. In 1978, the settlement was renamed Azatamut, a name with historical significance. In November 1920, the 11th Red Army entered Armenia from Azerbaijan through this area and subsequently Sovietized the republic. The settlement was given the name “Azatamut,” meaning “Gateway to Freedom,” to commemorate that event.
According to the last Soviet census of 1989, the population of Azatamut was around 4,000 people. However, following the partial shutdown of the bentonite factory, the settlement experienced emigration.
Azatamut is located 11 km northeast of Ijevan, the regional center, at an elevation of 580 meters above sea level. The Ijevan–Berd highway passes through the village.
Today, this border village is fully gasified and has a reliable water supply. At 55 years old, Azatamut continues to live and develop, preserving its unique character and important role in the community life of Tavush.
