Margarita Gharibyan, 52, lives in the Sisian community of Syunik, where she works as a cook in one of the restaurants. “I was at work making bread. It was 1:30 during the break, and we heard the sound of gunfire while eating. We went out, the sound of gunfire was already louder. That’s how we understood what was happening. To be honest, we were scared. We are afraid of last year’s war because during that war we kept people from Karabakh with us. We were very tense. They were afraid, we were with them. They were children and adults with fear in their hearts about what happened and how it happened. People were killed and injured. We have been afraid ever since,”
Mrs. Margarita recalls the events of November 16. Both of her sons-in-law took part in the second Artsakh war, one of whom was wounded and is still receiving medical treatment. The other, in her words, survived. “At that time, we kept fear in our hearts and fed the people of Karabakh. But we were scared of what will happen and how it will happen? Fear did not hinder, we did everything. And now the people of Karabakh call our employees, inspire them, say it is dangerous there, come to us.”
Despite the fears, thoughts of leaving Sisian never arose. “I will not go anywhere. There is no better place for me than our Sisian. I don’t know about others, but there is no place for me. And if they attack, then, like the rest, so do I. For example, I can stay fighting. I shoot well, I can go to war. I am not afraid of shooting.” Mrs. Margarita says they must overcome the situation at all costs. “If there is no fight, Sisian is a peaceful, calm place. The people work and live in peace for themselves. Not bad. We have to wait and see what will happen. We hope it will be good.”
Ami CHICHAKYAN
