The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict is a long-standing dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The conflict has resulted in multiple military clashes and a fragile ceasefire agreement.
In 1733, Armenians, supported by Nadir Shah of Persia, massacred all Ottoman army troops in Khamsa on a designated day. This event led to the restoration of the former status of the area.
In 1747, Panah Ali Khan Javanshir, a Turkic ruler from the Azeri Javanshir clan, proclaimed himself as the ruler (khan) of Karabakh. He founded the fortress of Shusha and made it the capital of the Karabakh khanate.
In 1785, Khan Ibrahim Khalil Khan arrested the Dzraberd, Gulistan, and Dizak meliks, leading to the breakdown of the Khamsa melikdoms. This event marked a significant shift in the political landscape of the region.
The First Congress of the Armenians of Karabakh declared the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and established the People's Government with various administrators overseeing different departments. The government later transformed into the Armenian National Council of Karabakh.
On January 15, 1919, the Azerbaijani government, with the approval of the British command, appointed Khosrov bey Sultanov as the governor-general of Nagorno-Karabakh. This move sparked tensions and resistance from the Armenian population in the region.
The 4th Congress of the Armenian population of Karabakh, held on February 19, 1919, in Shushi, decisively rejected an ultimatum from the Azerbaijani government and protested the appointment of Sultanov as governor-general. The Congress emphasized the principle of self-determination for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Fifth Congress convened in Shusha and rejected the demands of Colonel Digby Shuttleworth to recognize the power of Azerbaijan. It accused Azerbaijan of atrocities against Armenians and declared any program with attachment to Azerbaijan as unacceptable.
The Congress convened on August 13, 1919, and reached an agreement on August 22 regarding Nagorno-Karabakh considering itself part of the Azerbaijani Republic until the issue was resolved at the Peace Conference in Paris.
On February 19, 1920, Sultanov demanded the National Council of Karabakhi Armenians to urgently decide on the final incorporation of Karabakh into Azerbaijan, which was rejected by the Eighth Congress of Karabakhi Armenians.
In March-April 1920, a short war erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenia for Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict began on March 22 when Armenian forces attacked Atskeran and Khankendi, leading to a violent response from Azerbaijanis.
On July 5, 1921, Joseph Stalin intervened to keep Karabakh in Soviet Azerbaijan, going against the decision made by the Plenum of the Caucasian Bureau of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to integrate Karabakh into Armenia.
In 1923, the Soviet Union incorporated the historically Armenian Christian region of Nagorno-Karabakh as an autonomous region within the Turkic Shiite-dominated state of Azerbaijan, as a part of their strategy to consolidate power and manipulate borders.
The Soviet Union established the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region within Azerbaijan in 1924, despite over 94 percent of the region's population being Armenian. This decision led to tensions and hostilities between the Armenian and Azerbaijani populations in the region.
Armenians in Karabakh sent a letter to the leader of the USSR, Nikita Khrushchev, expressing their grievances about Azerbaijan's economic management of the region and requesting reincorporation into the Armenian SSR or integration into the RSFSR. As a result, Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian intellectuals who wrote the letter faced imprisonment, surveillance, job loss, and expulsion from the Communist Party.
In 1987, Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms emboldened Karabakh Armenians, leading to mass demonstrations demanding the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Soviet Armenia.
The enclave's parliament in Nagorno-Karabakh voted in favor of uniting with Armenia in February 1988, sparking tensions between ethnic Armenians and ethnic Azerbaijanis.
A direct confrontation occurred on the border of Nagorno-Karabakh near Askeran, leading to a skirmish between Armenian and Azerbaijani residents. Approximately 50 Armenians were wounded, and two Azerbaijanis were killed.
Following the confrontation in Nagorno-Karabakh, a pogrom against Armenian residents erupted in Sumgait, Azerbaijan. The violence lasted for three days, resulting in numerous deaths, with conflicting reports on the exact number of casualties.
In 1989, inter-ethnic conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated, leading to increased tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This eventually resulted in the proclamation of unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.
In January 1990, Azerbaijani protesters in Baku targeted the remaining Armenian population, leading to violent suppression by Soviet troops. The troops reportedly killed 122 Azerbaijanis in what became known as Black January.
In December 1991, a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh approved the creation of an independent state, despite being outside the legal framework of the USSR. This further fueled the conflict between Armenia-backed Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
Full-scale fighting erupted in the late winter of 1992 in Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to a violent conflict between ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
In September 1993, Turkey increased its military presence along the border with Armenia and demanded the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijan.
In January 1994, Azerbaijani forces, led by Əliyev, promised to reclaim occupied land and allow refugees to return home.
The First Nagorno-Karabakh War ended in May 1994 with a Russian-brokered ceasefire, bringing diplomatic mediation to the conflict.
Around 200 Grey Wolves, members of the Turkish nationalist group, were still present in the conflict zone in September 1994, engaging in training Azerbaijani units.
Turkey has been a strong supporter of Azerbaijan, providing active military help during the war and cooperating extensively with Azerbaijani armed forces. Turkey also supports Azerbaijan diplomatically and has refused to normalize relations with Armenia in solidarity with Azerbaijan over Karabakh.
Thomas Ambrosio suggested in 2000 that the US supported Azerbaijan's territorial integrity but effectively supported Armenia's irredentist policies. This indicates a complex stance taken by the US in the conflict.
In 2001, Azeri President Heydar Aliyev and Armenian President Robert Kotcharian engaged in peace talks in Key West, Florida, but failed to reach a deal acceptable to both sides.
Starting from 2002, President George W. Bush waived Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, enabling assistance to Azerbaijan. This decision had implications for the balance of power in the region.
In 2004, Azeri officer Ramil Safarov beheaded Armenian classmate Gurgen Markarian with an axe during a NATO training seminar in Hungary, leading to international outrage.
The 2008 Mardakert clashes began on March 4, following the Armenian election protests, resulting in heavy fighting between ethnic Armenian and Azerbaijani forces.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution reaffirming Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and demanding the immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied territories. The resolution was supported by Muslim states and some non-Muslim countries, while opposed by countries like Armenia, Russia, and the United States.
In 2009, Eduard Lintner founded the Society for Promoting German-Azerbaijani Relations, which lobbied for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The 2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clash on February 18 resulted in casualties on both sides, with three Azerbaijani soldiers killed and one wounded.
On May 23, 2010, parliamentary elections took place in Nagorno-Karabakh with international observers present.
In late April 2011, border clashes between Nagorno-Karabakh soldiers resulted in casualties, escalating tensions in the region.
A khachkar was inaugurated in the village of Vank in May 2011 in memory of 14 Kuban Cossacks who died in the Nagorno-Karabakh War.
In 2012, Ramil Safarov, the Azeri officer who murdered Gurgen Markarian, was transferred to Azerbaijan, pardoned, and hailed as a national hero, sparking outrage in Armenia.
Mohsen Rezaee, former commander of the IRGC, claimed to have personally ordered the equipping and training of the Azerbaijani army during the Karabakh War.
On November 12, 2014, Azerbaijani armed forces shot down a Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army Mil Mi-24 helicopter over Karabakh's Agdam district, marking the deadliest year for Armenian forces since the 1994 ceasefire agreement.
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia increased their military capabilities by acquiring advanced weaponry such as attack helicopters, fighter planes, and surface-to-air missiles in the years leading up to 2020. The Crisis Group monitored the deployment and use of heavy weaponry in the conflict zone.
Between 1 and 5 April 2016, heavy fighting along the Nagorno-Karabakh frontline left 88 Armenian and 31–92 Azerbaijani soldiers dead, with additional casualties among civilians and military equipment losses.
Clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along the line of separation escalated into outright fighting, leading to Russia brokering a ceasefire on 5 April. The violence continued with flare-ups until 11 April, resulting in Azerbaijan gaining control of more territory in the former NKAO.
The escalation and flare-ups in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continued until 11 April 2016, with the exact number of casualties remaining disputed. The fighting in the spring of 2016 resulted in hundreds of deaths.
In May 2017, servicemen were seen attending a Sunday service at Gandzasar monastery. This event was captured by CRISISGROUP.
On 29 March 2018, three civilian volunteers were killed in a demining operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, amidst continued clashes in the region.
Azerbaijan launches an offensive on Nagorno-Karabakh following an incident where Azerbaijani police officers and civilians were killed. Azerbaijan demands the withdrawal of ethnic Armenian forces from the region.
Azerbaijan and Armenian forces agreed to a cease-fire on 20 September to end two days of fighting in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijani authorities stopped their military operation after separatist officials announced surrendering.
Delegates of Azerbaijan and Artsakh meet in Yevlakh for peace talks, but no formal agreement is adopted after two hours of discussions.
The government of Artsakh announces that most of its population will leave following Azerbaijan's takeover of the territory. Armenia confirms the arrival of 1,050 refugees from Artsakh.
A new large-scale war erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenia, lasting until 10 November 2020. The conflict resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
President of Artsakh signs a decree to dissolve all state institutions of Artsakh beginning in 2024.
The number of refugees fleeing Artsakh to Armenia reaches a majority of the region's population. Former presidents of Artsakh are detained by the State Security Service of Azerbaijan.
On October 8, 2020, Holy Savior Cathedral in Shusha, Nagorno-Karabakh, was shelled during a military conflict, resulting in damaged pews amid rubble.
A man looking out from his damaged home after a ceasefire begins during the fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the city of Terter, Azerbaijan.
On November 9, 2020, Russia successfully brokered a deal that ended the six-week Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. The agreement resulted in Azerbaijan reclaiming most of the lost territory, leaving Armenia with only a portion of Karabakh.
The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War ended on November 10, 2020, after weeks of intense fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Ethnic Armenian soldiers observing Russian peacekeeping forces driving along a road in Lachin, Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijani service members were seen operating an armored personnel carrier in Hadrut town, located in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijan's troops gaining control over an area in Nagorno-Karabakh and signing a ceasefire deal with ethnic Armenian forces.
The border crisis started on 12 May 2021, when Azerbaijani soldiers crossed several kilometers into Armenia, occupying between 50 and 215 square kilometers. Azerbaijan has not withdrawn its troops from internationally recognized Armenian territory despite international calls to do so.
On June 15, 2021, a blockade was intensified in Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to the halt of all traffic on the lifeline, including the I.C.R.C. and Russian peacekeepers. The blockade severely impacted the transportation of medical patients and essential medicine to the region.
On July 11, 2021, Azerbaijan accused the I.C.R.C. of 'smuggling' through the corridor in Nagorno-Karabakh and imposed further restrictions on its movement. This accusation worsened the already acute shortage of supplies for the region's population of 120,000.
Three Armenian soldiers were killed and 14 wounded in an attack by Azerbaijani drones on 25 March 2022 in Nagorno-Karabakh.
On April 12, 2022, the International Crisis Group released a report focusing on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, providing insights and analysis on the ongoing crisis.
Violations of the 2020 ceasefire led to a two-day conflict starting on September 13, 2022, the most significant provocation since 2020. Azerbaijan launched attacks on Armenian territory, resulting in casualties and civilian evacuations.
Additional border clashes were reported on September 21, September 23, and September 28, 2022, less than one week after a truce mediated by Russia. Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan persist.
On 12 December 2022, under the guise of 'environmental protests', Azerbaijan launched an illegal blockade of the Republic of Artsakh, creating further tensions in the region.
On March 5, 2023, three Armenian police officers and two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in border skirmishes near the Lachin Corridor, with both sides accusing each other of initiating the violence.
On March 25, 2023, Russia accused Azerbaijan of breaching the 2020 ceasefire by crossing the Line of Contact in Shushi Province, Artsakh, and seizing control of roads near the Lachin corridor.
From 26 March to 30 September 2023, the Azerbaijani government consolidated its blockade around the Lachin corridor, seizing strategic ground and ignoring international calls to restore freedom of movement.
Published on April 10, 2023, the article 'Small Countries, Big War' in Foreign Affairs discusses the impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict on smaller nations involved in the conflict.
On April 23, 2023, Azerbaijan opened a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, claiming it was to prevent military shipments from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. The protests ended shortly after, revealing Azerbaijan's intention to block Armenian passage and solidify control over the region.
On July 11, 2023, Azerbaijan's State Border Service shut down the Lachin corridor, the sole route between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, citing smuggling concerns. The corridor was reopened on July 17 for humanitarian purposes.
The page dedicated to understanding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ceased updates on September 16, 2023, following Azerbaijan's military operation to retake the territory.
Azerbaijan launched a rapid offensive leading to the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19, 2023, resulting in the dissolution of the ethnic Armenian enclave on January 1, 2024.
Protestors in Yerevan accused the government of failing to protect ethnic Armenians and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, following Azerbaijan's offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Refugees from the Nagorno-Karabakh region driving cars past a checkpoint in the village of Kornidzor, Armenia.
An explosion occurred at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the death of at least 125 people. The incident took place as hundreds gathered to refuel their cars to flee Azerbaijan's hostile occupation.
A truck with refugees on board riding on the road between Kornidzor and Goris.
On October 4, 2023, CRF.org addressed the issue of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, highlighting the urgent need for action to prevent further atrocities.
The Washington Post reported on October 11, 2023, that Azerbaijan is eyeing a strip of Armenian land following the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict.
An analysis published on October 25, 2023, by Foreign Policy explores how the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict will influence global geopolitics.
On January 1, 2024, Nagorno-Karabakh was formally dissolved following the takeover by Azerbaijani forces.
Armenians have been living in the Caucasus region for over 3,000 years, with numerous churches dating back to the fourth, eighth, and 10th centuries. The Bishop Mouradian highlighted the long-standing Armenian presence in the area amidst tensions with Muslim-majority Azerbaijan.