Many things are disrupted in the community life of Sotk: school, preschool, farming, animal husbandry. After the attack by Azerbaijan on September 13, the houses of some residents were destroyed, and some were set on fire. People had to move to neighboring communities, or move only their children.
“There is no class, no kindergarten. The children study independently as much as they can. We live independently of ourselves,” Varduhi Khachatryan, a local resident, told reporters who came to Sotk, which was under direct enemy fire. She said that people are primarily interested in the future.
“We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. I moved my young grandchildren and came back to my husband, who works in the village administration. Where should I go? Why should I go if this is my house, my land? If it was Turk’s, we would think about running away, but this is my land. Where should we go from our village? I’m not someone who will leave. We just need support to know that they won’t shoot us again…it’s terrible, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
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My hope is on the government to find a solution. The people here are especially in need.” Varduhi Khachatryan informed that among the victims is one of the residents of the village. He was a contract soldier. The body, however, is unrecognizable, and they need to do a DNA analysis.
“We go to their house, we cry, and when we arrive… one of them is missing. We are afraid. My husband gives hope and says: don’t be afraid, it will be fine. We thought that those Turks would hit the military unit alone, but they also hit the village. They targeted us, the civilian population. They did their tricks again. We didn’t know how to get out from under those fires, those missiles.” The lady added, “Let us live with a little less, but let there be peace.”
Luiza Sukiasyan
