Areni Village, Near Azerbaijan, Is Now in ‘Permanent Fear’

“We’re ready to leave at any time. We have this permanent fear in our hearts,” she said.

AFP spoke to Mayrapetyan from her family home, as her mother was de-seeding bell peppers, and she said that every day she wakes up “happy to be in our own home.”

But her family has stopped renovation work on their house, in case it ended up in the hands of Azerbaijanis.

“We don’t know how long we’ll stay here,” she said.

Such concerns are widespread in the village, said Norayr Gregoryan, an official in charge of commerce and tourism at the city hall.

“Of course, we see that people are anxious, we hear that in every conversation,” he said.

The few shops in the village were still open, and children biked down the dirt roads.

But the mood is heavy.

Authorities have cancelled a planned wine festival, which was due to attract thousands of tourists.

Everyone “is preparing to defend the village,” Gregoryan said.

Nestled in between mountains, Areni does not look like an unassailable target.

Russia negotiated the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan after their latest war in 2020, and stationed peacekeepers in the region.

But it refused to intervene during Azerbaijan’s offensive on Karabakh, and locals like Ara Musaelyan have little faith in Moscow’s support.

Musaelyan also fled to Areni from Karabakh with his three children.

The former soldier is moved by revenge, rather than fear.

“Of course, there will be war again, it doesn’t matter where I have to fight,” he told AFP from the terrace of the house, still in renovation, where his family settled.

Musaelyan said he saw Azerbaijani troops commit atrocities during the September offensive.

“I want to get revenge, no matter where I am,” he said.