KORINDZOR: Ethnic Armenian refugees have started leaving Nagorno-Karabakh for the first time since Azerbaijan launched an offensive to seize control of the breakaway territory, potentially ending a three-decade-old conflict. This operation may signify a significant geopolitical shift, with Azerbaijan prevailing over the separatists, and Armenia distancing itself from its traditional ally, Russia.
A man from the village of Mets Shen shared, “Yesterday, we had to put down our rifles. So we left.” He added that they had only 15 minutes to pack up, leaving behind possessions, livestock, and even the grave of his three-year-old daughter. By Sunday evening, 377 forcibly displaced persons had crossed from Azerbaijan to Armenia, according to the Armenian government.
Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, sought to shift blame onto long-standing ally Russia, signaling a rupture in their countries’ security pact. Pashinyan stated that the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and Moscow-Yerevan military-political cooperation were “insufficient” to protect Armenia, hinting at the exploration of new alliances.
Conflict Between Azerbaijan and Armenia
Tensions ran high at the Kornidzor crossing, where relatives gathered to await news. Armenia also announced that Pashinyan would meet his Azerbaijani counterpart, President Ilham Aliyev, at a summit of the European Political Community in Granada, Spain, on October 5. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani settlements celebrated their government’s victory, further escalating tensions between the communities.
Azerbaijan’s sudden victory raises international concerns, including potential persecution in the conflict’s aftermath. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “deep concern” for ethnic Armenians, while Azerbaijan aims to reintegrate ethnic Armenian residents as equal citizens. Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Azerbaijan may further bolster Baku’s diplomatic support.
