82-year-old Romela Aghajanyan gets by the best she can, on her own, despite the ongoing closure of the Lachin Corridor.

The Stepanakert resident not only has to deal with food shortages but also the periodic disruptions of electricity and natural gas at the hands of Azerbaijani officials.

The woman, wrapped tightly in a thin gray housecoat, invites me in, offering some plum jam and tea from the kitchen. The apartment is cold.

Her two sons, Edo and Arsen, were killed in the 1990s Karabakh war. Arsen’s son Artur, whpo was serving as an Artsakh Defense Army tank battalion NCO, was killed in the 2020 Karabakh war.

Mrs. Aghajanyan points to the photos of her sons, husband and grandson on the cabinet, roughly distinguishing between them. She lost her husband in 1995, after the death of her sons.

Born in the Artsakh village of Karmir, Mrs. Aghajanyan moved to the capital Stepankert after getting married.

Her only daughter, Nona, needs constant care after having a heart attack.

Mrs. Aghajanyan says the food she’s purchased with ration cards will last her for two weeks at most. 

“With the coupons, at least you know there’ll be something in the stores. People had been buying everything up. The shelves were empty,” she says, adding that she does her shopping early because the streets aren’t lit at night.

Her gas stove also helps to heat the apartment when the gas hasn’t been shut off. But this also causes problems.

“A few days ago, my neighbor looked in on me. I leave the second apartment key   with him for safety. It turned out that I lit the gas stove, locked the door, and left the house," she says.

During power outages, Mrs. Aghajanyan fills her pocket with candies and goes to play with the neighbor's children. Sometimes she stays at home, alone, in the dark.

The woman has no intention of leaving her home.

 "If Artsakh goes, it will be Yerevan's turn next. Am I right?" she asks.

It is 7 o'clock in the evening. The power will be cut off in an hour. 

Mrs. Aghajanyan finishes her tea and draws the bed covers to warm where she’ll sleep a bit.