The historical origins of the Nakhichevan and Artsakh conflict

Nakhichevan and Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, are located in the South Caucasus, within Azerbaijan, but were historically inhabited by Armenians. The issue of jurisdiction over these territories has become one of the main causes of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

During the Soviet Union in the 1920s, Stalin decided to annex Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, without taking into account the ethnic composition of the local population. This created tension between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, which later escalated into a full-scale conflict.

During the Soviet Union

Within the Soviet Union, Artsakh was granted an autonomous region within Azerbaijan. However, in 1988, as the Soviet Union began to collapse, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh began demanding to join Armenia. Azerbaijan rejected this demand, leading to ethnic clashes and violence.

In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Artsakh declared independence, creating the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. However, the international community did not recognize this independence, and the conflict continued.

Independence and the resurgence of conflict

After the independence of Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1991, the Armenians of Artsakh declared their independence, creating the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. This led to large-scale wars from 1988 to 1994, known as the First Karabakh War.

The war ended with a ceasefire agreement in 1994, but the conflict remained unresolved. The international community continued to call on the parties to make peace, but tensions remained.

The declaration of independence of Artsakh

In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Artsakh declared independence, creating the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. However, the international community did not recognize this independence, and the conflict continued.

The declaration of Artsakh's independence led to large-scale fighting between 1988 and 1994, known as the First Karabakh War. The war ended with a ceasefire agreement in 1994, but the conflict remains unresolved.

The 2020 war and its consequences

In 2020, the Second Karabakh War broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The war lasted 44 days and ended with a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia. In this war, Azerbaijan established control over territories previously under Armenian control.

The war resulted in thousands of deaths and displacements. The Armenian population of Artsakh was forced to leave their homes, fleeing the hostilities.

The deportation of Artsakh Armenians

In 2023, as a result of military operations launched by Azerbaijan, the Armenian population of Artsakh was forced to leave their homes, fleeing the hostilities. International organizations condemned these actions as an example of ethnic cleansing.

The displaced mostly moved to Armenia, fleeing the consequences of the war. This process led to the almost complete displacement of the Armenian population of Artsakh, leaving only a few dozen people.

Peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia

In 2023, a peace agreement was signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, mediated by Russia. This agreement provided for a cessation of hostilities and the establishment of peace in the region.

The peace agreement was welcomed as an important step towards regional stability, but there are still many unresolved issues related to the status of Artsakh and the return of displaced persons.

International response and future prospects

The international community reacted to the Artsakh conflict in different ways. Some countries supported Armenia's position, others supported Azerbaijan. International organizations, including the UN, called on the parties to establish peace.

Future prospects depend on the willingness of the parties to resolve outstanding issues and build a sustainable peace in the region. It is possible that new negotiations will take place in the future on the issues of the status of Artsakh and the return of displaced persons.