Now my son is 29 years old
We are not needed to anyone now.
In Aghavno. It is the first village of Stepanakert.
- On the road to Stepanakert. - Yes. - Is it Artsakh? Can you introduce yourself?
Why not? Karine Agikyan. 63 years old. What more can I say?
I have fought since 90s. I have been wounded five times. It is my third war.
Yes. The military education. I have worked at school for 20 years.
- Are you a soldier? - No. I am a volunteer.
What are these medals for?
For participance in all wars.
For bravery. For participance in all wars. I was rewarded for the bravery.
What were you doing at wars?
Firstly I was a sniper, a nurse. A antitank grenadier as well. Different things during the war.
- So you participated in 90s, 2016 and now, didn't you? - Yes. It is my third war.
- So you told that you are a sniper. - Yes, in 90s I was both a sniper and a nurse.
- And during this war I have been both a rifleperson and a nurse. - Have you been fighting? - Yes.
How was the war?
It was very hard. The entire air force fired. They shell from the sky. Just from the sky.Both drones and jets. There were also mortars and MRLS "Grad". Everything.
- Have you been exactly here? - No. In Jabrail. - Have you seen the Azerbaijanian soldiers? - Yes.
- Did they shell? - They were far.
We were fired by planes, drones, mortars and Grads. It was rare if they used rifles.
- Was it during this war? - No. It was in 90s. From 1990 till 1994. For 4 years.
It was 5 times. Shrapnel.
- And did you fight in 2016? - Yes. Again I did lot of things. A rifleperson and a nurse. And I was also an antitank grenadier.
I was In Martakert, Jibrail, Hadrut.
- Did you shoot when you were a sniper in 90s? - Of course. I killed the Azerbaijanians. - How many? - I didn't count them. A lot.
What do you think about the current situation?
My ancestors were from Van. Now it is the Turkish territory. My great grandfather, grandfather and uncles were from Van.
- What was on 10 November? What do you think about this? - Our lands were given like a gift. It is very bad. - Who is guilty? - Guilty? At first Levon, then Serg, Kocharyan and now it is Pashinyan. They are all guilty. They all sold our lands. Presented to Turks.
You mentioned Pashinyan. I know a lot of soldiers. What is their opinion about him? Are they for him or against?
- They are against him. - What is the percent? How many? - When we heard about the agreement at night on 9 November we were all crying on our positions.
We all told that Pashinyan had given our lands like a gift to Turks.
So the soldiers think that Pashinyan is guilty?
Yes, everybody think like that. At first Levon, then Serg, Kocharyan and now it is Pashinyan.
What will be next in your opinion?
- I don't know. Perhaps it will be bad. - The war again? - Nobody can answer his question.
How far are the Azerbaijanian soldiers from here?
They are not here. They are 3 kilometres above there and the same below there. We are in the middle.
- And there are the Russian peacekeepers here. - Yes. - Do Azerbaijanians walk here? - No. They want come here.
- So it is calm now. - Yes.
what should people in America and Europe know about this war?
The whole world talks about Artsakh. If there weren.t the Turkish drones and jets, we would be probably in Baku already. The Azerbaijanians don't have such power to fight with the Armenian people.
It is our land.
- How old are you? - 63 years old. - Wow. I can't say that you are this age.
These are all our ancient lands. These are our ancestors' lands.
- Thanks a lot. - You are welcome.
- Thanks a lot. - You are welcome. - It was a pleasure to meet you.