KORINDZOR: Separatist forces in Nagorno-Karabakh have announced negotiations regarding the withdrawal of their troops from the disputed enclave after Azerbaijan quickly reclaimed control in a military offensive.
Azerbaijan initiated a first round of “reintegration” talks with ethnic-Armenian rebels on Thursday following the rebels’ decision to lay down their arms in response to a one-day military assault by Azerbaijan. The separatists disclosed that discussions were underway with Baku to facilitate the withdrawal process and the return of civilians displaced by the recent hostilities.
This development comes amid reports of Azerbaijani forces encircling the main city of Stepanakert, with humanitarian conditions described as “horrible.” Spokeswoman Armine Hayrapetyan, based in Yerevan, Armenia, expressed concerns about Azerbaijani troops surrounding the city, causing residents to fear potential incursions and violence.
Civilian inhabitants in the region, estimated at up to 120,000 individuals, have reported suffering from shortages of electricity and essential utilities. Pressure has mounted on Azerbaijan to reopen the only road connecting to Armenia, known as the Lachin Corridor, allowing for the movement of supplies and people.
Distressed civilians gathered at the last checkpoint held by the Armenian army, hoping for access. One individual, Garik Zakaryan, spoke of waiting for three days and nights in his car, expressing dwindling hope. Furthermore, the separatists announced that discussions with Azerbaijan are underway to determine the procedure for citizens’ entry to and exit from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijan had previously imposed a de facto nine-month blockade on the region before intensifying pressure. To solidify its control over the area lost in a 1990s war, Baku announced it had begun sending urgently needed aid on Friday. Hikmet Hajiyev, a foreign policy advisor to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, confirmed that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had been assured of access to provide assistance. The ICRC was also permitted to collect wounded separatist fighters, while ambulances from Armenia were allowed to conduct medical evacuations.
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Nagorno-Karabakh has been a focal point of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan for over three decades since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The fighting has witnessed abuses on both sides, with concerns now arising about a potential refugee crisis among the estimated 120,000 ethnic-Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. While the Russian-brokered truce largely holds, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan acknowledged that the situation in the disputed territory remains tense. He expressed hope for positive developments and the potential for increased humanitarian aid delivery to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijan declared the first round of peace talks with the separatists as “constructive,” and both sides expressed readiness for further negotiations. The rebels’ surrender, following an offensive that they claimed resulted in 200 casualties, has prompted celebrations in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, in Armenia, it has increased pressure on Prime Minister Pashinyan, who has faced criticism for making concessions to Azerbaijan following territorial losses in a six-week war in 2020.
Protests against the government’s handling of the crisis erupted in Yerevan for the third consecutive day, with demonstrators blocking streets. Opposition leaders have announced plans to initiate Pashinyan’s removal through parliament.
Pashinyan attributed the failure to avert Azerbaijan’s offensive to Russian peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh since 2020, six of whom were among the casualties, according to Azerbaijan’s prosecutor’s office. Despite its involvement in the ceasefire and peace talks, Russia is currently engaged in the Ukraine conflict.
The Kremlin has stated that the question of Karabakh’s sovereignty has been resolved, and conditions for achieving lasting peace between Baku and Yerevan are now in place.
