Azerbaijan, a nation in the Caucasus that formerly belonged to the Soviet Union, is the site of a regional conflict. It has a breakaway region called Nagorno-Karabakh, which is located inside Azerbaijan. The latest news is that forces from Azerbaijan attacked the separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh. It is a very confusing situation, especially for those of us who are thousands of miles from the region, so let’s briefly discuss it.
Why has Nagorno-Karabakh tried to break away from Azerbaijan?
The majority of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are ethnically Armenian, while most of Azerbaijan is Azeri. There are political, linguistic, cultural, and religious differences between the two groups. The Armenians in the region also identify with the neighboring country of Armenia, where their own ethnic group is in the majority.
When did this happen?
Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union (see Jose’s terrific articles about the history of the Soviet Union) in 1991, Nagorno-Karabakh has been trying to break away from Azerbaijan.
Is there a deal?
Yes, there is a deal. Under the new ceasefire, the parties to the conflict established humanitarian corridors for people to get out.
How many deaths have there been?
Over 5,000 Azerbaijan soldiers and at least 143 civilians have died.
What’s happened to Nagorno-Karabakh’s separatist forces?
It was disbanded as a part of a deal with Azerbaijan.
What happened to the Russian peacekeepers?
Azerbaijan forces destroyed a base belonging to Russian “peacekeepers.” was destroyed by Azerbaijan forces. A top officer died in the shelling.
Could Nagorno-Karabakh win?
From my point of view, no. They have a weak army, and Azerbaijan has been prepping for this.
