Thirty-year turning point dispute in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh (or Artsakh in the Armenian language), area of the Southern Caucasus within the territory of Azerbaijan. After the operations begun 24 hours earlier by Baku's military forces, an "anti-terrorism operation", declared the Azerbaijani government, in fact the Armenian population of the region she seems to have given up.
Representatives of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh separatists they will start negotiations tomorrow in Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh. The news was reported by the Russian Interfax agency, citing the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities.
Artsakh Armenians ready to hand over their weapons
The Armenian community, who lived in the Caucasus mountains, announced their surrender and said they were ready to hand over their weapons and dismantle the institutions of their republic of Artsakh.
"We are completely under siege and alone, even Mother Armenia abandoned Artsakh in this fight. There protection of human life should be the priority”, wrote a resigned Artak Beglaryan, former de facto prime minister of Nagorno Karabakh, on his Facebook profile shortly before the surrender.
To understand now what will be the fate of the Armenian population who lives in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan has a prevailing philosophy that tends to dehumanize Armenians, and the Azerbaijani regime has been criticized for its nationalism and lack of democracy. The Armenians of the region are thus thinking of emigrating and abandoning the region for fear of violence and of a new genocide towards them as happened in the early twentieth century with the Armenians in Turkey.
Political victory of Azerbaijani president Aliyev
The surrender (and perhaps definitive victory in Negorno Karabakh) represents a significant one strategic and political victory for Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, while for Armenia it could be a moment of humiliation that risks fueling irredentist sentiments. The operation was one demonstration of strength on the part of Baku thanks to the considerable economic resources that they allowed him to obtain latest generation weapons (including drones) from Israel and Türkiye.
Total surrender by Armenia who did not have the strength (and Baku's economic resources) to defend the separatists of Nagorno-Karabakh. protests e manifestations were taken in the capital Yerevan, culminating in clashes with the police. The protesters have requested his resignation of the prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, accusing him of a lack of initiative in managing the situation.
It's a another loser from the Azerbaijani operation It appears to be Russia, Armenia's traditional ally and theoretical guarantor of peace in the region. In fact, Moscow remained imposing in the face of the operation planned by Baku, an operation similar to the Russian invasion in Crimea. Only after the action had begun did the Kremlin make an urgent appeal to immediately stop the bloodshed and end the hostilities.
Moscow is urging the parties involved to return to respect for trilateral agreements stipulated between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia for Nagorno-Karabakh. “The most important thing now is to immediately return to compliance with the trilateral agreements signed in 2020-2022 – reiterates the Russian Foreign Ministry – which establish all measures for a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,” reads the statement urging both sides “to stop armed hostilities and do everything possible to protect the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and defend their interests”.
The origin of the clash in Nagorno Karabakh
The dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh has complex origins which date back to the ethnic and territorial history of the region. Despite one majority of Armenians in the area, during the Soviet era, the Nagorno-Karabakh was awarded to Azerbaijan, creating national and territorial tensions. When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, both Armenia and Azerbaijan declared independence, triggering conflict for control of the region.
Una war between 1988 and 1994 saw Armenia take control of Nagorno-Karabakh, but the conflict was not resolved. This situation was fueled by ethnic differences (Armenians against Azerbaijanis) e religious (Christians against Muslims), which created tensions between communities. Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh seek independence or union with Armenia, while Azerbaijan claims control over the region along Soviet borders.
The dispute remained unresolved for many years and led to periodic violence and attempts at international mediation to find a peaceful solution. And perhaps today its definitive conclusion has been reached.
