Peacekeepers Attempted to Evacuate Women and Children from Artsakh via Lachin Corridor, Azerbaijanis Open Fire

As soon as the shelling began, women and children were evacuated from the village and taken to Russian peacekeepers’ posts, recounts Sevak Manjikian, a nurse in the village of Mets Shen.

Manjikian and her husband have remained in the village, stating they wanted to stay to assist any potential casualties.

According to her, peacekeepers attempted to evacuate women and children from Artsakh through the Lachin Corridor via the Hakari Bridge, but Azerbaijanis started firing at the peacekeepers' vehicles.

"It was probably around 7 o’clock; they wanted to take the children and women to Hin Shen. From there, it seems the Azerbaijanis made an announcement that the road is open, and anyone who wants to leave can do so. They intended to take the children and women out through Lachin via the Hakari Bridge, but from the peacekeepers’ post to our village, they had already fired at the Russian vehicles, which is why there was a delay, and they couldn’t transport the children. But in those vehicles, where the women and children were seated and wanted to head towards the Hakari Bridge on the Russian ‘Ural’ vehicles, they fired at them, which is why the Russians did not evacuate the children. Now they are completely here; no one has left,” the nurse from Mets Shen said.