"The Russians said, 'That's it, go away, there's no more room; our soldiers are sleeping.'" Says Askeran Resident

“A ceasefire has been declared; we managed to come home so we could bathe and change our clothes. We are now in Askeran,” said Hermine Khachatryan, a resident of Askeran, in an interview with “Hraparak.”

She noted that they cannot stay in their homes at night because it is dangerous, and they are forced to return to the vicinity of the Russian peacekeepers’ shelter and stay there under the open sky, as it is perceived to be safer.

“It’s still dangerous here; the Russians are not providing any guarantees that people can enter and stay in Askeran. The Russians took us on the first day and kept us with them for exactly two days, feeding us in the cafeteria. After two days, they kicked us out and pressured everyone, both women and men. They said, ‘That’s it, go away; there’s no room; our soldiers are sleeping,’ and threw everyone out into the streets. We’ve been sleeping outside for the past four or five nights, in fear. Some people aren’t afraid; the majority of men are coming to Askeran to sleep in their own homes,” Hermine said.

The Askeran resident also mentioned that they have no information about the casualties. Regarding food supplies, she stated that people are starving; there is nothing available—no flour or any other food. They are not baking bread. “Four days ago, they said they would provide electricity, and we would bake bread, but they still haven’t given any,” she added.

“Thanks to Jesus Christ, whatever will be, will be: whether there will be peace or whether they will massacre us like in Sumgayit, I still don’t know. That’s what I can say; nothing else,” Hermine concluded.