ON THE TESTAMENT OF SAGHATEL-BEY YUZBASHYANTS

Abstract

The original testament of the wealthy Saghatrel-bek Yuzbashyants from Artsakh was
published along with an editorial note of the newspaper in the “Meghu Hayastani” (“Armenian
Bee”) newspaper, no 11 of 1863. The outstanding point of the publication was that in 1849
Yuzbashyants bequeathed 400 roubles, which he deposited in one of the Moscow banks with
4% annual interest rate and 166 UK pounds, which he deposited in one of the London banks on
the same terms. However, according to the testament, these amounts and interests could be
utilized only 260 years later, i.e. after 2109. That made those funds useless from the standpoint
of the projected noble aims Saghatrel-bek Yuzbashyants noted in his testament. The rouble
deposit was nationalized by the Bolsheviks in 1917, while the fate of the London deposit is
unclear and would hardly be seriously considered for requesting in 2109. The testament most
probably would get a scrap, yet the amounts noted in the document could potentially be used
for concrete needs of Artsakh’ people.