| Republic of Artsakh Արցախի Հանրապետություն Нагорно-Карабахская Республика | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
 | |
| Capital and largest city | Stepanakert |
| Official languages | Armenian Russian |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,170 km² |
| Population | |
• 2015 census | 150,932 |
Artsakh, officially the Republic of Artsakh, also known as Artsakh or Nagorno-Karabakh, was a partially recognised state in the Caucasus. Azerbaijan claimed Artsakh as part of its territory.
History
In the 1920s, Sergei Kirov and Sergo Orjonikidze wanted Artsakh to be part of Armenia. Nariman Narimanov, the Chairman of the Revkom of Azerbaijan, made Artsakh an autonomous oblast of Azerbaijan instead.[1]
Dissolution
On 19 September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive into Artsakh.[2] The day after, on 20 September, Azerbaijan and Artsakh agreed to a ceasefire mediated by Russian peacekeepers.[3]
The government of Artsakh was forced to dissolve as an entity, and since 1 January 2024 the Republic of Artsakh no longer exists. The deal reached between Azerbaijan and Artsakh allows the free and unhindered movement of the residents of Artsakh in exchange for the disarmament of Armenian troops.[4] Armenians living in Artsakh have therefore been escaping across the border to Armenia, fearing the retribution of the Azerbaijan government. The Armenian government has denounced this as ethnic cleansing. Over 100,000 people, over 80% of Artsakh's population, had left by early October 2023.[5]
References
- ↑ Edgar Konstanyan (2022-10-28). "Nagorno-Karabakh: Marxist Point of View" Politsturm. Archived from the original on 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
- ↑ "Azerbaijani forces strike Armenian-controlled Karabakh, raising risk of new Caucasus war" (2023-09-19). Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- ↑ "BREAKING: Russian-mediated ceasefire announced in Nagorno-Karabakh" (2023-09-20). Armenpress. Archived from the original on 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- ↑ "Nagorno-Karabakh separatist government says it will dissolve itself by January 2024" (2023-09-28). Le Monde. Archived from the original on 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- ↑ "Almost all ethnic Armenians have left Nagorno-Karabakh" (2023-09-30). The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-10-01.