The separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is an unrecognized republic in Azerbaijan, has announced its dissolution, leading to the disappearance of the republic by the end of the year. This decision comes after Azerbaijan launched an offensive to regain control over the region, demanding the disarmament of Armenian troops and the dissolution of the separatist government. The President of Nagorno-Karabakh, Samvel Shakhramanyan, cited a September 20 agreement which allows Nagorno-Karabakh residents to freely move to Armenia, resulting in a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians from the region. Over 66,000 people have already fled to Armenia, with the influx continuing.
After the end of separatist fighting in 1994, Nagorno-Karabakh came under the control of ethnic Armenian forces with the support of Armenia. However, during a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed parts of the region and surrounding territories. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan’s territory.
Azerbaijan imposed a blockade in December, claiming that the Armenian government was using the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for illicit purposes. This blockade led to a denial of essential supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Armenia. Talks are currently underway between Baku and Nagorno-Karabakh’s separatist authorities regarding the reintegration of the region into Azerbaijan.
Many residents have chosen to leave for Armenia due to fears of reprisals, resulting in a congested traffic jam on the road between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. So far, there have been no reports of residents burning down their homes before leaving, as occurred in 2020 when Azerbaijan took over other territories. A fuel reservoir explosion at a gas station in short-supply caused the death of at least 68 people and injured nearly 300 others. The fate of ethnic Armenians remaining in the region is uncertain, as Nagorno-Karabakh’s President urges them to consider reintegration conditions offered by Azerbaijan.
Ruben Vardanyan, the former head of Nagorno-Karabakh’s separatist government, has been charged by Azerbaijani authorities with financing terrorism, creating illegal armed formations, and illegally crossing a state border. Vardanyan, a billionaire banker, was detained while trying to enter Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh and faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted.
Another top separatist figure, the former foreign minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, David Babayan, has announced his surrender to Azerbaijani authorities after they demanded his arrival in Baku for an investigation. Babayan, who will head from Stepanakert to the city of Shusha, which is under Azerbaijani control, believes his failure to comply will harm the people. It appears that Azerbaijan aims to establish control over the region quickly.
This article was written by The Canadian Press and contributed to by Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia.
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