A CITY of over 100,000 people was quickly abandoned in just days as locals feared becoming victims of a genocide.
Haunting footage shows the inside of Stepanakert, a city close to the borders of warring states Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was emptied at the end of September.
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As Azerbaijan’s army swooped into the ethnically Armenian breakaway enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, locals of its largest city ran for their lives.
The lightning fast invasion on September 19, saw the South Caucasus region that is officially recognised as part of Azerbaijan fall back into its hands.
It had been ruled for three decades by neighbouring Armenia, who believe it to be their ancestral home, with support from its close ally, Russia.
However, it sparked a mass exodus of the ethnically Armenia population.
Grabbing what they could and fleeing, the residents of Stepanakert (called Khankendi in Azerbaijan) left their lives in a rush.
The once bustling city, filled with offices, shops and people living ordinary lives has fallen silent.
Eerie scenes from inside the now abandoned city reveals washing still on lines, cars left at petrol stations and orphaned pets wandering the streets.
Shops have been looted, windows smashed.
Buggies, half-packed suitcases, chairs and blankets lie strewn across its streets.
They are the final remnants of 100,000 souls who had only weeks earlier called Stepanakert their home.
Bullet holes now littler the walls on the way into the city, while check-points have been set up to prevent movement into and out of the city.
The territory of Nagorno-Karabak had been the main focus of two wars between Azerbaijan and neighbouring Armenia, but now it has fallen out of Moscow’s zone of influence.
The leader of the self-declared republic has said it will cease to exist in the New Year.
Under terms of a ceasefire, Armenian forces must withdraw and stand down and discussions are underway for its re-integration into Azerbaijan.
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