Nagorno-Karabakh: in Stepanakert, life today is slowing down
Audio 01:23
In Stepanakert, October 17, 2020 (illustrative image).
REUTERS / Stringer
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Second month of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, along the front line.
The armies of Azerbaijan and the self-proclaimed republic each claim to control the situation.
Azerbaijani forces have conquered territories beyond Baku's control since the 1990s, and they are coming dangerously close to a vital route between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Stepanakert, the main town in the region, has been the target of bombings on several occasions in recent weeks.
Much of the population has taken shelter in Armenia, and life is slowing down there today.
Report at the city market.
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Anastasia Becchio
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Richard Riffonneau
Stalls covered with tarpaulins, empty crates piling up: most of the vendors in the Stepanakert market are absent.
Buyers too.
At the back of the hall, Donara Gasparian works a dough, which she mixes with 17 different herbs to bake a local specialty, Gingalov bread.
“
There is no one left to sell us these herbs in this market
,” she says.
We have to pick them up in villages ourselves and we only have two short hours left to bake our bread here.
Overall, there is no shortage of food, we get by, but the main thing is that there is peace.
"
Artillery fire echoes in the distance.
Lena Mikelian, 80, walked for a good half an hour to buy some pork and some vegetables: “
All the shops are closed but here you can still buy things.
I think our fighting boys will make sure we don't get stuck with nothing.
We have good boys.
"
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To read also: Nagorno-Karabakh: "We are witnessing the last stages of this war"
In one of the few open bakeries in the city, it's the D system to find the ingredients needed to make bread, as Herminé Ghazarian explains in front of his ovens: "
Every day we have to find a way to find a way. to buy flour.
There is no more delivery, so we will pick it up from those who still have stocks but who no longer produce.
"
The property will close at noon.
Bakers also need to think about their safety.
The city is regularly targeted by shells and missiles.
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Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenia
Azerbaijan
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