The Nagorno-Karabakh war of 1991-1994 claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people. This interethnic conflict was the first in the post-Soviet space. And the most bloody. The active phase of the Nagorno-Karabakh war ended in 1994, but a peaceful compromise was never found. Even today, the armed forces of both states are in constant combat readiness.
Origins of the Nagorno-Karabakh War
And the prerequisites for this enmity date back to the beginning of the 20th century, when, after the formation of the Soviet state, the autonomous Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was mostly populated by Armenians, was included in the Azerbaijan SSR. Seventy years later, the Armenian population still prevailed here. In 1988, it was about 75% against 23% of Azerbaijanis (2% were Russians and representatives of other nationalities). For quite a long period, the Armenians of this region have regularly complained aboutdiscriminatory actions of the Azerbaijani authorities. The issue of the reunification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia was also actively discussed here. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the fact that nothing could hold back the tension anymore. Mutual hatred escalated as never before, which led to the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh war.
In 1988, the Council of Deputies of the Parliament of the autonomous Nagorno-Karabakh region held a referendum in which the vast majority of the population voted for joining Armenia. As a result of the vote, the Council of Deputies asked the governments of the USSR, Azerbaijan and Armenia to sanction this process. Of course, this did not cause delight on the Azerbaijani side. In both republics, clashes on the basis of interethnic strife began to occur more and more often. The first murders and pogroms took place. Before the collapse of the state, Soviet forces somehow held back the outbreak of a large-scale conflict, but in 1991 these forces suddenly disappeared.
The course of the Nagorno-Karabakh war
After the failure of the August coup, the fate of the Soviets became finally clear. And in the Caucasus, the situation has escalated to the limit. In September 1991, the Armenians arbitrarily proclaimed an independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, while forming a fully combat-ready army with the help of the leadership of Armenia, as well as foreign diasporas and Russia. Last but not least, this was possible thanks to good relations with Moscow. At the same time, the new government in Baku set a course for rapprochement with Turkey, which causedtensions with their own recent capital. In May 1992, the Armenian formations managed to break through the Azerbaijani corridor, fortified by enemy troops, and reach the borders of Armenia. The Azerbaijani army, in turn, was able to occupy the northern territories of Nagorno-Karabakh.
However, in the spring of 1993, the Armenian-Karabakh forces carried out a new operation, as a result of which not only the entire territory of yesterday's autonomy, but also part of Azerbaijan was under their control. The military defeats of the latter led to the fact that in Baku in mid-1993 the nationalist pro-Turkish president A. Elchibey was overthrown, and a prominent figure from the Soviet period, G. Aliyev, took his place. The new head of state significantly improved relations with the post-Soviet states, joined the CIS. This also facilitated mutual understanding with the Armenian side. The fighting around the former autonomy continued until May 1994, after which the heroes of the Karabakh war laid down their arms. Soon a ceasefire was signed in Bishkek.
Result of conflict
In subsequent years, there was a continuous dialogue mediated by France, Russia and the United States. However, it has not been completed to this day. While Armenia advocates the reunification of this enclave of the Armenian people with its main part, Azerbaijan insists on the principle of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders.
