Commentary: Who can profit from a small struggle in Nagorno-Karabakh | Comments from DW Reviewers and Guest Contributors | DW

Nagorno-Karabakh – a powder keg of the South Caucasus

The starting of hostilities in Karabakh

On December 10, 1991, the so-called independence referendum was held within the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The Azeri minority boycotted the vote. The referendum was not acknowledged by the worldwide group. Interethnic confrontation led to large-scale navy actions for management over Nagorno-Karabakh and a few adjoining territories.

Nagorno-Karabakh – a powder keg of the South Caucasus

War and refugees

In the course of the armed interethnic battle between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, in line with some sources, greater than 30,000 folks died. Hundreds of 1000’s of refugees from each international locations were compelled to flee their houses.

Nagorno-Karabakh – a powder keg of the South Caucasus

International mediators within the settlement of the battle

After the conclusion of the armistice in May 1994, the OSCE Minsk Group is engaged within the settlement of the battle. Its mandate was decided in the identical yr on the Budapest Summit. The group consists of Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland and Turkey, Belarus, in addition to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since 1997, it has been co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France.

Nagorno-Karabakh – a powder keg of the South Caucasus

Territory of dispute

A street register Armenian (photograph of 2014) is positioned on the freeway resulting in the town of Stepanakert, the capital of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The metropolis additionally has a second identify within the Azerbaijani language – Khankendi. The worldwide group doesn’t acknowledge the NKR and considers the area as a part of Azerbaijan. Armenia denies this.

Nagorno-Karabakh – a powder keg of the South Caucasus

War reminder

In Nagorno-Karabakh, between the cities of Shushi and Stepanakert (in Azerbaijani Shusha and Khankendi), this monument has been erected: a fight automobile now serves as a reminder of the tragic occasions of the 80s-90s of the final century. (archive photograph, 2010)

Nagorno-Karabakh – a powder keg of the South Caucasus

Escalation of the Karabakh battle

In early April 2016, one other escalation of the battle between Armenian and Azerbaijani models befell on the road of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh. The events accused one another of violating the truce. These were essentially the most violent clashes since 1994, in line with varied sources, dozens of individuals were killed on either side.

Nagorno-Karabakh – a powder keg of the South Caucasus

The position and place of Russia on Karabakh

Moscow performs a particular position on this battle. Russia is the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and provides weapons to either side of the battle. In the Nineteen Nineties, Moscow provided to deploy peacekeepers alongside the road of contact, however each Baku and Yerevan refused this. Officially, again in 2004, Putin declared that Russia didn’t wish to take duty and become involved on this battle.

Nagorno-Karabakh – a powder keg of the South Caucasus

Painful factors of Nagorno-Karabakh

There are a number of locations in Nagorno-Karabakh which have suffered particularly through the energetic part of the interethnic battle. Thus, the cities of Stepanakert and Shushi were massively shelled. The names of those locations nonetheless function symbols of the violent battle.

Nagorno-Karabakh – a powder keg of the South Caucasus

Nagorno-Karabakh – a frozen battle?

Despite the truth that the truce between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides was reached nearly 25 years in the past, it is periodically violated. The battle over Nagorno-Karabakh is thought of frozen, whereas the hazard of its escalation is nonetheless excessive.

Author: Natalia Pozdnyakova