Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh Latest News

Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a peace agreement set to end nearly four decades of conflict between over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

About Nagorno-Karabakh

• Nagorno-Karabakh, referred to as Artsakh by Armenians, is a landlocked, mountainous region in the South Caucasus. 
• The general region includes the northeastern flank of the Karabakh Range of the Lesser Caucasus and extends from the crest line of the range to the margin of the Kura River lowland at its foot. 
• Nagorno-Karabakh’s environments vary from steppe on the Kura lowland through dense forest of oak, hornbeam, and beech on the lower mountain slopes to birchwood and alpine meadows higher up.
• Following the Russian Empire’s collapse in 1917, both Armenia and Azerbaijan asserted claims over this area, leading to enduring tensions. 
• Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, until recently much of it was governed by the unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, also known as the Republic of Artsakh.
• Historically, the region’s population was predominantly ethnic Armenian, and it operated a self-established government closely aligned with Armenia, though lacking official recognition from Armenia or other United Nations member states. 

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Timeline

The conflict has roots dating back well over a century into competition between Christian Armenian and Muslim Turkic and Persian influences.

• 1920s: After World War I and the Bolshevik revolution, Soviet rulers created the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region within Azerbaijan, with an ethnic Armenian majority.
• 1991: As the Soviet Union collapsed, Karabakh declared independence, and tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis led to full-scale war.
• 1992-94: The First Karabakh War resulted in up to 30,000 deaths. Armenians took control of the region and occupied surrounding Azerbaijani land, creating a buffer zone.
• 2017: A referendum in Karabakh changed the government to a fully presidential system and renamed the region from Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to Republic of Artsakh.
• 2020: The Second Karabakh War saw Azerbaijan reclaiming territory around Karabakh, with 3,000 Azerbaijani and 4,000 Armenian soldiers killed in six weeks of fighting.
• 2022: Clashes broke out between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, with 100 Armenian and 70 Azerbaijani soldiers killed.
• 2024: Nagorno-Karabakh was officially dissolved.

Nagorno-Karabakh FAQs

Q1. Which country is Nagorno-Karabakh?

Ans. Nagorno-Karabakh is a region internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

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Q2. What is the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh?

Ans. The conflict revolves around ethnic and territorial disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with Armenians seeking independence or unification with Armenia.

Q3. Who currently controls Nagorno-Karabakh?

Ans. Azerbaijan regained full control of Nagorno-Karabakh following a military offensive in September 2023.

Source: FT