LakerLately

Ever since the collapse of the USSR in the early 1990’s, there has been tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two south caucasus nations. The subject of this tension is Nagorno - Karabakh, a region which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but inhabited and governed by an Armenian majority. When the USSR collapsed in 1991, Nagorno-Karabakh held a referendum - which was boycotted by Azeris inhabitants - to become an autonomous region. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh has functioned as an autonomous province within Azerbaijan, with the backing of Armenian government. Over the last 30 years, the region has been heavily disputed, ceasefires have been broken, and skirmishes broken out.

The conflict reached a boiling point in late September when fighting escalated. Both sides were quick to point fingers at each other, claiming their aggressions were simply in self defense. Throughout October and into November, the sides have launched a series of strikes on each other, causing over 1,000 fatalities and many injuries and property damage. Azerbaijan’s won the war, as a result of their numerical and monetary advantage. They outspent Armenia over 5 fold, and were aided by their strong ally Turkey.

On November 10th, Russia brokered a peace deal between the two countries. Effectively, the deal granted Azerbaijan the territory they had won throughout the fights and the deployment of Russian troops throughout Nagorno-Karabakh to keep the peace. The resolution was seen as a win for Russia, who successfully expanded their influence in the region, and for Azerbaijan, who now control more of Nagorno-Karabakh. 

For the Armenians, the resolution has worse implications. Many Armenians are fleeing the region now granted to Azerbaijan and burning their homes behind them. The peace deal also sparked protests in Yerevan and throughout Armenia, as Armenians felt their prime minister acted cowardly, and called for him to resign.