The capital surrounded, the inhabitants holed up. Despite the ceasefire which continues on Friday, the population of Stepanakert, “capital” of the separatist region, fears “massacres”. For good reason, the city is surrounded by Azerbaijani soldiers, according to a spokesperson in Yerevan, Armenia, for the local authorities.
“The situation in Stepanakert is horrible, Azerbaijani troops are all around the city, they are on the outskirts,” said Armine Hayrapetian, who represents the information center of the “government” of this secessionist territory in the Armenian capital. “People fear that Azerbaijani soldiers could enter the city at any time and start massacres,” she continued.
No electricity, no food
Stepanakert and other regions of Nagorno Karabakh have been deprived of most basic services since the Azerbaijani army’s lightning offensive earlier this week to reconquer this enclave, added Armine Hayrapetian. “No electricity, no gas, no food, no fuel, no Internet or telephone connections”, “people are hiding in the cellars”, she said again.
Armenian separatists have agreed to lay down their arms following fighting which they say left 200 people dead. They held first talks in Azerbaijan on Thursday with a view to “reintegration” into this country. “We have so many victims, dead and injured,” said Armine Hayrapetian, without providing details.