Nagorno-Karabakh: in Stepanakert, a workshop hastily manufactures military outfits
Audio 01:24
Stepanakert, the capital of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, October 19, 2020. REUTERS / Stringer
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Among the targets of the Azerbaijani army is Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is regularly bombarded.
The city was emptied of its inhabitants in the first days of the war at the end of September, but others stayed and participated in the war effort, like in this sewing workshop in the city center.
Publicity
Read more
With our special envoys to Stepanakert,
Richard Riffonneau and Anastasia Becchio
The sewing workshop located on the ground floor of the building has been moved to the basement to guard against bombardments.
About twenty people, mainly women, make military uniforms and warm duvets there.
There is no shortage of work, explains Archak Ayrapetian, who manages the team of seamstresses.
“
Volunteers keep coming in,
” he says.
There are hundreds, thousands, and we have to hurry and sew outfits for them so they can join the military.
We must continue the effort until the war is over.
It's sad, but we have no choice.
"
►
To read also: Nagorno-Karabakh: the inhabitants organize themselves as best they can in the face of the conflict
All the little hands are volunteers.
On one of the machines, Satik Tsaturian manufactures pockets of military fatigues.
A retired teacher, she comes to work here every day with her daughter, while her son is on the front lines.
“
I have the impression that by being here, closer to the events, I can be more useful to everyone, but also to my son,
” she explains.
Some spend the night here, it's safer.
When it bombs hard, we also stay here, otherwise we will sleep at home.
The day before yesterday, we were here and fortunately, because we were very afraid.
We will of course continue our effort, we will resist, but our children continue to die.
"
According to official figures, considered partial, nearly a thousand Armenian soldiers lost their lives in a month of conflict.
►
See also: Nagorno-Karabakh: negotiations fail between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Armenia
Azerbaijan
On the same subject
Iran deploys troops to border with Armenia and Azerbaijan
Reportage
Nagorno-Karabakh: the inhabitants organize themselves as best they can in the face of the conflict
International guest
Nagorno-Karabakh: "The Russian government still remains officially mediator and neutral"