Title: Azerbaijan Declares Sovereignty Restored over Nagorno-Karabakh, Ethnic Armenians Evacuated
Date: 20 September 2023
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev announced today that his country has regained control over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh after a 24-hour military offensive against ethnic-Armenian forces. The president praised the heroism of Azerbaijan’s army, while Karabakh forces agreed to surrender.
Nagorno-Karabakh, located in the South Caucasus enclave, is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but it is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Armenians. The recent military operation aimed to bring the breakaway region under full Azerbaijani control.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijan launched an “anti-terror” operation, demanding that Karabakh forces raise a white flag and dissolve their “illegal regime.” Facing a nine-month blockade without support from neighboring Armenia, the ethnic Armenians ultimately gave in.
According to Armenian officials, at least 32 people, including seven civilians, were killed, with another 200 wounded. However, a separatist Armenian human rights official claims that over 200 people were killed and more than 400 wounded. The exact figures have yet to be independently verified.
Tensions escalated further when Armenian officials accused Azerbaijan of opening fire on troops near the town of Sotk on the border between the two countries. However, Azerbaijan promptly denied these claims.
In response to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s handling of the crisis, thousands of protesters gathered in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, demanding his resignation. Azerbaijan’s army claimed to have captured over 90 positions from ethnic Armenians before both sides agreed to a complete cessation of hostilities through Russian peacekeepers.
Under the terms of the truce, local Karabakh forces must commit to full disbandment and disarmament. Additionally, Armenian forces are expected to withdraw, although the Armenian government denies any military presence in the region.
Azerbaijan’s presidency announced that officials would meet with Karabakh’s Armenian representatives on Thursday to discuss “issues of re-integration” in the town of Yevlakh. President Aliyev assured that Azerbaijanis had no grievances against the Karabakh population, blaming only the “criminal junta.”
The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh has a long history, with two previous wars fought since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The recent hostilities in 2020 resulted in thousands of deaths, allowing Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, to recapture territory surrounding and inside the enclave.
For the past nine months, Azerbaijan has imposed an effective blockade on the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Karabakh to Armenia. The ethnic Armenians in the region have suffered from shortages of essential supplies, with Armenia unable to provide assistance.
Russia, which has 2,000 peacekeepers on the ground, announced that it had evacuated 2,000 people from Karabakh villages during the offensive. As the ceasefire was declared, Karabakh officials urged residents to remain in shelters rather than flocking to the local airport. The situation remains uncertain for these displaced civilians.
Caucasus specialist Thomas de Waal of Carnegie Europe observed that the ceasefire terms and upcoming talks heavily favor Azerbaijan, leaving ethnic Armenians feeling unprotected. He noted that this may mark the end of a decades-long project for Karabakh Armenians to secede from Azerbaijan.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan distanced his government from the ceasefire text, demanding that Russian peacekeepers take full responsibility for the safety of the local population. He accused Azerbaijan of engaging in “ethnic cleansing” in Karabakh.
The ongoing crisis highlights the complex nature of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. While Azerbaijan claims territorial sovereignty, Armenia has shown eagerness to align itself with Western alliances, straining its relationship with Russia. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing protests in Armenia and concerns over the future of the ethnic Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Image source: Russian Defence Ministry | Artsakh Public TV
Caption: Russian peacekeepers evacuate ethnic Armenians from Karabakh villages | Victims of the conflict in Karabakh: 32 dead and 200 wounded according to local authorities