Nagorno-Karabakh to Cease to Exist on Jan. 1, After Defeat by Azerbaijan
– Nagorno-Karabakh, a region located in the South Caucasus, has been disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
– In a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan regained control of much of the territory, including the capital city of Stepanakert.
– On September 28, 2023, the president of Nagorno-Karabakh, Samvel Shahramanyan, signed a decree to dissolve all state bodies and institutions.
– The dissolution of Nagorno-Karabakh is a major setback for Armenia, which has supported the region's independence for decades.
– It is also a significant victory for Azerbaijan, which has long sought to restore its control over the region.
The future status of Nagorno-Karabakh is uncertain
but the dissolution of its government marks a new chapter in the long-running conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
– Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region bordered by Armenia to the east and Azerbaijan to the west, north, and south.
– It has a population of about 120,000 people, the majority of whom are Armenians.
– The region is strategically located along the Silk Road, a major trade route between Europe and Asia.
– The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh has been one of the most intractable conflicts in the post-Soviet era.