Other Arzni Sanatorium, Armenia - March 2023

[The_Raw]

Sanatoriums in the Soviet Union were a key component of the state's healthcare system, designed to provide short-term, often state-sponsored, rest and treatment for a variety of health conditions. Similar to a spa resort, but with medical services. Most of them closed down when the Soviet Union collapsed at the beginning of the 90s, as was the case with this one. We arrived quite late in the day so we didn't have long before it was about to get dark. Shame as I would've liked to have spent a bit longer in there. Most of the rooms were empty but there was some quite interesting stuff dotted around. I got a bit spooked when a couple of Armenian guys entered the building, but they were just having a look around like us. I have no idea what treatment to expect from the police in Armenia but I'd rather not find out. We had one brief encounter in Yerevan where we had a gun pointed at us, and we hadn't even got past the gate! Anyway onto the pics.

This notice board explains where the various health treatments can be found within the complex.

Medical room

This was a poster for "providing self-help and mutual assistance in case of exposure to radioactive, toxic substances and bacterial agents"

Remains of a gas mask

Former cinema room

May 9th - Victory Day (the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in 1945)

Cheerio noy 👋​