The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a protracted territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over a mountainous, predominantly ethnic-Armenian-populated region internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. Its modern phase began in the late Soviet period, when the regional soviet of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast voted in February 1988 to join Soviet Armenia, triggering inter-communal violence including pogroms in Sumgait and later Baku.
After the dissolution of the USSR, the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1992–1994) saw Armenian forces, backed by Armenia, take control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani districts. A Russian-brokered ceasefire signed in Bishkek in May 1994 froze the conflict without a political settlement. Hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were displaced, and a self-declared Republic of Artsakh administered the territory without international recognition.
Mediation was conducted primarily through the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, the United States, and France, established in 1992. The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions in 1993 (822, 853, 874, 884) calling for the withdrawal of occupying forces, none of which were implemented.
Tensions periodically erupted, including the "Four-Day War" of April 2016. The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in autumn 2020 saw Azerbaijan, with significant Turkish support and extensive use of drones, retake most surrounding districts and parts of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. A Russian-mediated trilateral statement on 9–10 November 2020 ended hostilities and deployed Russian peacekeepers.
In December 2022 Azerbaijan effectively blockaded the Lachin corridor, the sole road linking Armenia to the enclave. On 19–20 September 2023 Azerbaijan launched a rapid military operation, after which the Artsakh authorities agreed to dissolve their institutions (effective 1 January 2024) and over 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled to Armenia. Negotiations on a comprehensive Armenia–Azerbaijan peace treaty and border delimitation have continued since.
Example
In September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a 24-hour military operation that led to the dissolution of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh and the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians to Armenia.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Every UN member state, including Armenia in practice during recent negotiations, recognizes the territory as part of Azerbaijan. The self-declared Republic of Artsakh never received recognition from any UN member.
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