Originally published September 25, 2023 9:57 am PDT
The escalating situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has instigated a mass exodus of hundreds of ethnic Armenians to Armenia, amid rising apprehensions of Azerbaijani “ethnic cleansing” operations.
The conflict, reminiscent of the discord sowed during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, has intensified following Azerbaijan’s recent military conquest of the enclave, according to Al Jazeera.
Azerbaijan’s assertion of control over the primarily Armenian-populated territory has compelled approximately 1,050 individuals to seek refuge in Armenia, as per the Armenian government’s statement on Sunday.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan anticipates a further influx of around 120,000 civilians fleeing the South Caucasus region, motivated by their reluctance to exist under Azerbaijani jurisdiction and the looming threat of “the danger of ethnic cleansing”.
“The likelihood is increasing that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will see expulsion from their homeland as the only way out,” Pashinyan revealed, underscoring Armenia’s readiness to warmly receive “our brothers and sisters from Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh to Armenians, harbors a complex historical legacy, having been governed by a plethora of rulers, including Persians, Turks, Russians, and Ottomans. The region became a subject of contention between Azerbaijan and Armenia following the demise of the Russian Empire in 1917.
Amid declarations of victory by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, promises have been made to assure the rights and safety of the Armenian inhabitants.
However, the long-standing animosity and violent history between the two factions evoke skepticism regarding such guarantees.
Aliyev remarked that Armenians, predominately Christian, possess the liberty to leave, contrasted with the primarily Muslim population of Azerbaijan.
“Our people do not want to live as part of Azerbaijan – 99.9 percent prefer to leave our historic lands,” conveyed David Babayan, an adviser to the Karabakh leadership, expressing the prevalent fears of repression and the perception that the predicament of the inhabitants will be remembered as “a disgrace and a shame for the Armenian people.”
Sheila Paylan, an international human rights lawyer, echoed the concerns regarding the treatment of ethnic Armenians under Azerbaijani authority.
“There is a long-standing policy of hatred towards the Armenians that goes back decades. That just doesn’t stop overnight. There’s no reasonable basis to trust there will be any safety or security or rights protected for the Armenians of Karabakh,” Paylan told Al Jazeera. “They are very much in danger right now.”
Efforts for a “direct dialogue” concerning the future of the region, including potential political integration and resolution of socioeconomic issues, have been articulated by Hikmet Hajiyev, foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijan’s president.
Armenia is fervently advocating for an immediate United Nations mission to oversee the human rights and security situations in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is currently enduring a blockade orchestrated by Azerbaijani forces, resulting in severe shortages of food and fuel.
Humanitarian assistance, inclusive of 150 tonnes of aid from Russia and 65 tonnes of flour facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has been dispatched to address the burgeoning crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Amid the rising tensions, the ICRC has expressed its commitment to augmenting its presence in the region, with a focus on addressing pressing needs in health, forensics, protection, and weapons contamination.
The unfolding events continue to draw global attention, raising apprehensions in international communities, including Moscow, Washington, and Brussels, concerning the fate of the ethnic Armenian majority residing in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Biden administration officials arrived in Armenia on Monday.
Samantha Power, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is in the country along with State Department acting assistant secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim, The Hill reports.
The officials are there to “affirm U.S. support for Armenia’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and democracy and to help address humanitarian needs stemming from the recent violence in Nagorno-Karabakh.”
