Last September, over 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nina Shahverdyan, along with her family, endured a harrowing 30-hour journey to escape, witnessing heartbreak and tragedy along the way.
In a swift turn of events, Azerbaijan’s military reclaimed all lost territory from a conflict stemming from the Soviet Union’s dissolution.
Armenians now fear Azerbaijan’s desire for further expansion, despite President Aliyev’s rhetoric of nearing unprecedented peace. Aliyev’s past remarks about Armenia as “Western Azerbaijan” fuel apprehension of an imminent invasion.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently cautioned of Azerbaijan’s readiness for a large-scale war, although he later agreed to return four border villages as a gesture of détente.
Azerbaijan refutes Armenian concerns, yet President Aliyev demands a free railroad corridor through Armenia to Nakhichevan, threatening force if necessary. Armenia insists on retaining control, prompting fears of escalation.
In Yerevan, an increasing number of civilians, including Nina, are undergoing military training amid heightened tensions. Gender is irrelevant; self-defense is paramount in Armenia’s precarious geopolitical landscape.