2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh: Difference between revisions

2023 Nagorno-Karabakh offensive
	Part of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
	; Military situation in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020
Date	19 September 2023 – present; (1 year, 1 week and 1 day)
Location	Nagorno-Karabakh
Result	Ongoing
Belligerents
Azerbaijan	Artsakh
Commanders and leaders
Ilham Aliyev	Samvel Shahramanyan
Units involved
Azerbaijani Land Forces; Azerbaijani Air Force	Artsakh Defence Army
Casualties and losses
Azerbaijan estimate:; 3 civilians killed	Armenian estimate:; 2 civilians killed ; 11 civilians wounded

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Revision as of 16:23, 19 September 2023

On 19 September 2023, Azerbaijani forces launched an attack on the self-declared Armenian breakaway state of Artsakh.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] The attacks occurred in the midst of an escalating crisis caused by Azerbaijan blockading the Republic of Artsakh, which has resulted in significant scarcities of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and other goods in the affected region.^[9]

Background

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an ethnic and territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is inhabited mostly by ethnic Armenians. The Nagorno-Karabakh region is entirely claimed by and partially de facto controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh but is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan de facto controls one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh region as well as the seven surrounding districts.

The conflict escalated in 1988, when the Karabakh Armenians demanded the transfer of the region from Soviet Azerbaijan to Soviet Armenia, triggering the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. In late 2020, the large-scale Second Nagorno-Karabakh War resulted in thousands of casualties and a significant Azerbaijani victory. An armistice was established by a tripartite ceasefire agreement on November 10, resulting in Armenia and Artsakh losing the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh as well as one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh itself.^[10] Ceasefire violations in Nagorno-Karabakh and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border have continued following the 2020 war, with intermittent but ongoing casualties.

Since the 2020 war, Azerbaijan has rescinded its offer of special status or autonomy to its indigenous Armenian residents and instead insists on their "integration" into Azerbaijan.^[11]^[12] International mediators and human rights organizations have emphasized self-determination for the local Armenian population^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16] and do not believe that Artsakh Armenians can live safely under the regime of Azerbaijani President Aliyev.^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22] Since December 2022, Azerbaijan has blockaded the Republic of Artsakh from the outside world, in violation of the 2020 ceasefire agreement and international legal rulings.

Prelude

Since 12 December 2022, Azerbaijan has blockaded the Republic of Artsakh.^[23]^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27]^[28] The Azeri government seized territory around the Lachin corridor both within Artsakh and Armenia, blocked alternative bypass routes, and installed a military checkpoint.^[29]^[30]^[31]^[32]^[33]^[34]^[35] Azerbaijan has also sabotaged critical civilian infrastructure of Artsakh, including gas, electricity, and Internet access.^[36]^[37]^[38]^[39]^[40]^[41]^[42]

The blockade has created a humanitarian crisis for the population of Artsakh; imports of essential goods have been blocked, as well as humanitarian convoys of the Red Cross and the Russian peacekeepers, trapping the 120,000 residents of the region.^[43]^[44]^[38]^[45]^[46]^[47] Shortages of essential goods – including electricity, fuel, and water reserves – are widespread and emergency reserves are being rationed, alongside massive unemployment, and closures of schools and public transportation.^[48]^[49]^[50]^[51]^[52]^[53]^[54]

Azerbaijan claims its actions are aimed at preventing the transportation of weapons and natural resources;^[55]^[56] Azerbaijan also says its goal is for Artsakh's "integration" into Azerbaijan, despite opposition from the population, and has threatened military action if the Artsakh government does not dissolve.^[57]^[58]^[59]^[60]^[61]

Numerous countries, international organizations, and human rights observers have condemned Azerbaijan's blockade and consider it to be a form of hybrid warfare,^[62]^[63]^[64] ethnic cleansing,^[65]^[66]^[67] and genocide.^[68]^[69]^[70]^[71]^[72]^[38] Multiple international observers also consider the blockade and the inaction of the Russian peacekeepers to be violations of the tripartite ceasefire agreement signed between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, which ended the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War and guarantees safe passage through the Lachin corridor.^[73]^[74]^[75]^[66]^[76]^[77] Azerbaijan and Russia have ignored calls from various countries and international organizations to restore freedom of movement through the corridor.^[78]^[79]

Overview

On 19 September 2023, the Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense released a statement, claiming that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces were shelled by Armenian forces, leading to increased tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The statement followed with information that there has been fortification of battle positions, increased mobilization units, and expanded reconnaissance activities. The statement accused Armenia of killing two civilians on the same day with a vehicle with a land mine attached exploded which in response, launched "local anti-terrorist activities". The statement ended with a notice that the Russia peacekeeping contingent and the Turkish-Russian Monitoring Center were informed about the ongoing activities,^[80] but Russia denied this, adding that its peacekeepers were only informed of the matter a "few minutes" before it started.^[81]

Azerbaijan claimed that no civilian positions were being attacked with weaponry, but it was clear that strikes were being carried out in close proximity to large cities and densely populated areas.^[82] The attacks occurred in the midst of an escalating crisis caused by the Azerbaijani government effectively blockading the Republic of Artsakh. This blockade has resulted in significant scarcities of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and other goods in the affected region.^[82] Azerbaijan said that it had set up “humanitarian corridors and reception points on the Lachin road and in other directions" which will “ensure the evacuation of the population from the dangerous area.”^[83] These announcements were distributed through SMS, leaflets, and social media and triggered fears of ethnic cleansing among the residents.^[84] Artsakhi authorities warned its residents that "the Azerbaijani propaganda machine uses large-scale information and psychological influence measures."^[85]^[86]

Nagorno-Karabakh’s leadership offered to negotiate with Azerbaijan after the Azerbaijani army launched a military offensive against the Armenian-populated region. “The Karabakh side appeals to the Azerbaijani side to immediately cease the hostilities and sit down at the negotiation table with the aim of settling the situation,” it said in a statement issued late in the afternoon. The office of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev responded by saying that it is ready to meet with Karabakh Armenian representatives in the Azerbaijani town of Yevlakh. It stressed at the same time that the Azerbaijani offensive will continue unless the Karabakh Armenians disband their government bodies and armed forces.^[87]

Artsakh authorities said the state's de facto capital, Stepanakert, and other cities were “under heavy shelling”, accusing Azerbaijan of attempted ethnic cleansing.^[88]^[89]^[90]^[91]^[92] Artsakh's human rights ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan said two civilians, including a child, were killed,^[93] while 11 others were injured,^[94] eight of which were children.^[95]

Analysis

Various political analysts and Artsakh residents consider Azerbaijan's underlying goal for the offensive to be ethnic cleansing.^[83]^[96]

Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Europe, noted that Azerbaijan was possibly emboldened to start its offensive during a downturn in relations between Russia and Armenia, and the loss of the Russian peacekeeping force's "best commanders" to the invasion of Ukraine He also said that Russia could use such a crisis to instigate regime change in Armenia.^[95]

Reactions

Armenia

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the Armenian Armed Forces were not involved in fighting and that Armenian forces are not stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh. He also reiterated that the situation in the Armenia-Azerbaijan border was stable and said that Azerbaijan was trying to ethnically cleanse the region.^[88] Pashinyan also said that Azerbaijan's motivation for the attack was to draw Armenia into a military confrontation.^[97] Armenia’s Ministry of Defense accused Azerbaijani officials of spreading misinformation, saying that there is no Armenian military equipment or personnel present in Nagorno-Karabakh.^[88]^[98] The Armenian foreign ministry accused Azerbaijan of unleashing “large-scale aggression” against Karabakh and claimed Baku was attempting “ethnic cleansing” in the region.^[88]^[89] Armenia called on the United Nations Security Council and Russia to take action in order to end the military operation, while Pashinyan called an emergency meeting of the country's National Security Council.^[88]

Hundreds of protesters gathered for a rally outside government buildings in the capital Yerevan denouncing Pashinyan as being soft on Azerbaijan and weak in Nagorno-Karabakh, with some calling for a coup d'état and the removal of Pashinyan from office. Pashinyan denounced such calls stating that "We must not allow certain people, certain forces to deal a blow to the Armenian state."^[99]

Other countries

France: The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the military operation and called for Azerbaijan "to immediately cease its assault and return to respect for international law" and requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.It stated that France had been "working closely with its European and American partners" to effectively respond to the attack, which it described as "unacceptable".^[100]
Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Azerbaijan of breaking promises not to resort to military action in Nagorno-Karabakh and called on it to stop and return to negotiations.^[101]
Russia: Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement that Russia was "deeply alarmed by the sharp escalation".^[88]^[102] and denied that Russia was informed of the Azerbaijani operation in advance, adding that its peacekeepers were only informed of the matter a "few minutes" before it started.^[95] Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia will not defend Armenia from the Azerbaijani offensive, adding strong criticism to Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan.^[103]
United States: United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Turkish diplomats about the crisis.^[100]

Supranational

European Union: President of the European Council of the European Union Charles Michel condemned Azerbaijan's hostility and urged the country to immediately stop its military activities and return to dialogue, through a social media post.^[88]

United Nations: U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told Al Jazeera that the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh was "very concerning". He urged both sides to halt hostilities and go back to "sustained dialogue".^[88]

References

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^ Roth, Andrew (19 September 2023). "Azerbaijan launches 'anti-terrorist' campaign in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "Armenia and Azerbaijan: A blockade that never ended and a peace deal hanging by a thread". Global Voices. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
^ Isayev, Heydar (20 April 2022). "Azerbaijan quiet as Karabakh negotiations progress". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
^ Vock, Ido (8 June 2023). "Fear and loathing in Armenia". New Statesman. Retrieved 9 June 2023. President Aliyev told Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to 'obey the laws of Azerbaijan [and] be a loyal and normal citizen of Azerbaijan'. He threatened that if the territory's separatist institutions were not dissolved, Azerbaijan would dissolve them by force and rejected the prospect of international protections for ethnic Armenians.
^ Bedevian, Astghik (2 March 2023). "German Leader Backs Karabakh's Right To Self-Determination". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
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^ "Kennan Cable No. 81: What's at Stake in Nagorno-Karabakh: U.S. Interests and the Risk of Ethnic Cleansing | Wilson Center". www.wilsoncenter.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023. For nearly 30 years, they built a self-proclaimed independent republic with democratic elections, a free press, and a range of public institutions. Officially, it remained within the territorial boundaries of Azerbaijan, unrecognized by any foreign country, though international mediators made reference to the right of self-determination for local Armenians as part of ongoing peace talks.
^ "A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan". Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023. The Lemkin Institute believes that, given the circumstances, the self-determination of the people of Artsakh is a form of genocide prevention in addition to a right recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and several human rights treaties and declarations, which has become part of international jus cogens. Self-determination is further a recognized right of all peoples under oppressive colonial regimes.
^ Hauer, Neil (31 July 2023). "Karabakh blockade reaches critical point as food supplies run low". www.intellinews.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023. With Azerbaijan now starving the 120,000 people it claims are its citizens, many observers now agree that the idea that Karabakh Armenians can live safely in Ilham Aliyev's Azerbaijan is hardly credible.
^ Boy, Ann-Dorit (18 January 2023). "Blockade in the Southern Caucasus: "There Is Every Reason to Expect More Violence This Year"". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
^ "In Other News: Reaching the Breaking Point". CIVILNET. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
^ Hauer, Neil (31 July 2023). "Karabakh blockade reaches critical point as food supplies run low". www.intellinews.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023. Khachatryan's detention confirms the fears of many Karabakh Armenians that, if Azerbaijan assumes control over Karabakh, it will detain (and torture) them arbitrarily, using their participation in one or more of the wars as justification. This criteria extends to nearly every male resident of the small enclave. "Arrests with linkages to the past wars, local army or the [Karabakh] government …would quality almost all local men for detentions," wrote Olesya Vartanyan, International Crisis Group's senior analyst for the South Caucasus. The detainees can expect torture or worse, as the Armenian prisoners of war following the 2020 war conflict experienced.
^ "A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan". The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. 30 May 2023.
^ "A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan". Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023. The Lemkin Institute believes that, given the circumstances, the self-determination of the people of Artsakh is a form of genocide prevention in addition to a right recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and several human rights treaties and declarations, which has become part of international jus cogens. Self-determination is further a recognized right of all peoples under oppressive colonial regimes.
^ "Азербайджанские "активисты" блокируют дорогу из Карабаха в Армению. Одновременно в Карабахе пропал газ" [Azerbaijani "activists" are blocking the road from Karabakh to Armenia. At the same time, gas disappeared in Karabakh]. BBC News Русская Служба (in Russian).
^ Smeltzer, Mike (24 May 2023). "War Deepens a Regional Divide". Freedom House. Retrieved 25 May 2023. [Azerbaijan] launched a major incursion into the Republic of Armenia in 2022, and in early 2023 it [Azerbaijan] further isolated the ethnic Armenians who remained in Nagorno-Karabakh by blocking a crucial road link under the guise of "environmental protests".
^ "Red Flag Alert for Genocide - Azerbaijan Update 6". Lemkin Institute. Retrieved 26 May 2023. The so-called "environmentalists" who have blocked the Lachin corridor have shown themselves to be little interested in environmentalism. They chant "Karabakh is Azerbaijan" and carry signs supporting Aliyev and the Azerbaijani military....This is all a far cry from what one would see at an environmental protest.
^ Gavin, Gabriel (13 December 2022). "Nagorno-Karabakh: protestors cause crisis in Russia's backyard". Reaction. Retrieved 27 December 2022. Tom de Waal, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and author of several books about the conflict, has claimed that the environmental protestors are akin to the "Little Green Men" used by Russia to occupy Crimea in 2014 while denying it was invading.
^ Górecki, Wojciech; Strachota, Krzysztof (6 March 2023). "The undeclared war. A new phase of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict". OSW Centre for Eastern Studies. Retrieved 14 June 2023. Although this venture is being spearheaded by alleged environmental activists demanding permission to monitor Karabakh's rare metal deposits...it would be impossible to carry out such an action in Azerbaijan without the cooperation of the authorities.
^ "Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022: Motion for a resolution Paragraph 80 a (new)" (PDF). European Parliament. 11 January 2023. The European Parliament adopted the Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022 resolution on January 18. The plenary session also adopted an amendment, saying the European parliament "strongly denounces Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, in violation of the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020, as it threatens to precipitate an intentional humanitarian crisis for the people of NagornoKarabakh; demands that the Azerbaijani authorities restore freedom of movement through the Lachin corridor with immediate effect."
^ "Treading a Tightrope on the Armenian Border: Reviewing the First Two Months of the EU's New Mission in the South Caucasus". Caucasus Watch. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023. The following week saw a reconfiguration of road links and military positions in the Lachin Corridor, with Azerbaijani forces constructing a new military post, taking control of strategic heights, ignoring Russian calls to return to their original locations, and seizing land in Armenia around the new road leading from the villages of Tegh and Kornidzor towards Karabakh.
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^ Khulian, Artak; Stepanian, Ruzanna (31 March 2023). "Armenian Government Blamed For Fresh Azeri Territorial Gains". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 14 June 2023. Azerbaijani troops redeployed on Thursday morning to more parts of the Lachin district adjacent to the Armenian border, blocking the old [Lachin] corridor section.
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^ Loe, Catherine (27 April 2023). "Azerbaijan sets up checkpoints on the Lachin corridor". Economist Intelligence Unit. Retrieved 3 May 2023. The move [installation of a checkpoint] has increased the blockade of Nagorny Karabakh...A checkpoint on the border would give Azerbaijan the ability to stop any cars travelling between Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh.
^ "Ensuring free and safe access through the Lachin Corridor". Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly. 20 June 2023. p. Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons. PDF. [the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe]...is extremely worried by events...which culminated on 12 December 2022 with the interruption of the free and safe passage through the Lachin corridor and the subsequent deliberate cutting of electricity and gas supplies to the region... [The Assembly]...urges Azerbaijan to restore electricity and gas supplies without delay or impediment.
^ Marques, Pedro; Kaljurand, Marina; Santos, Isabel; Hajšel, Robert; Incir, Evin; Loiseau, Nathalie; Auštrevičius, Petras; Bilbao Barandica, Izaskun; Charanzová, Dita; Chastel, Olivier; Cseh, Katalin; Gheorghe, Vlad; Grošelj, Klemen; Guetta, Bernard; Hahn, Svenja; Karlsbro, Karin; Melchior, Karen; Nart, Javier; Paet, Urmas; Ries, Frédérique; Šimečka, Michal; Ştefănuță, Nicolae; Strugariu, Ramona; Vautmans, Hilde; von Cramon‑Taubadel, Viola; Weimers, Charlie; Fragkos, Emmanouil; Kruk, Elżbieta; Dzhambazki, Angel; Zalewska, Anna; Brudziński, Joachim Stanisław; Kanko, Assita; Jurzyca, Eugen; Bielan, Adam; Fidanza, Carlo; Ruissen, Bert‑Jan; Kouloglou, Stelios; Castaldo, Fabio Massimo. "JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh | RC-B9-0075/2023 | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 22 June 2023. whereas this humanitarian crisis was further aggravated by Azerbaijan's disruption of the natural gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh, which left houses, hospitals and schools without heating...[the European Parliament]...urges Azerbaijan to refrain from undermining the functioning of transport, energy and communication connections between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in future.
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^ "Atrocity Alert No. 358: El Salvador, Nagorno-Karabakh and UN peacekeeping - El Salvador | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023. The blockade has deprived over 120,000 ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, including 30,000 children, of life-saving resources such as food, medicine, electricity and fuel.
^ Hauer, Neil (31 July 2023). "Karabakh blockade reaches critical point as food supplies run low". www.intellinews.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023. Occasional ICRC and Russian traffic continued to pass until June 15, at which point Azerbaijan halted all humanitarian deliveries. No food, medicine or fuel has entered Nagorno-Karabakh since.
^ POSTON, ALEXIS (7 June 2023). "State Fragility and the Shadow of Genocide in Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia (the South Caucasus) | The Fund for Peace". fundforpeace.org. Retrieved 8 June 2023. Armenian civilians of Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding regions along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border are threatened by Azerbaijan's military and face violence if they try to leave Armenian territory within disputed areas.
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^ "New Troubles in Nagorno-Karabakh: Understanding the Lachin Corridor Crisis". www.crisisgroup.org. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023. While travellers were already few due to the blockade, the ICRC reports that its ability to get people across has been curtailed [since the installation of the checkpoint], leaving only the Russian peacekeepers to facilitate trips to Armenia for medical care.
^ "June Alerts and May Trends 2023". www.crisisgroup.org. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023. Checkpoint on Lachin corridor faced fierce opposition amid humanitarian crisis....Azerbaijani military consolidated [the] blockade, however, leading to even fewer crossings and reduced transportation of goods.
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^ "Uncertainty plagues Nagorno-Karabakh students pursuing higher education". CIVILNET. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023. When Azerbaijan's blockade began, kindergartens and schools were among the first institutions to be shut down due to gas supply cuts and shortages, depriving students across dozens of schools of the right to education. Since then, the operations of nearly every educational institution in Nagorno-Karabakh, including NGOs with branches in Stepanakert and across the region, have been deeply disturbed by the blockade.
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^ Ivanova, Polina (15 August 2023). "'People feel let down by Russia': disputed Caucasus enclave choked by blockade". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 August 2023. Others see the escalating humanitarian situation as a way to trigger an exodus. It is "indirect ethnic cleansing", said Giragosian, of the Regional Studies Center. "Not by bayonet, but rather by creating unbearable conditions." Suleymanov, the Azerbaijani ambassador, said Baku instead wanted to achieve full integration of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. "They are our citizens", he said, adding that he believed they would be passport-holders soon.
^ "Blockaded Nagorno-Karabakh is running out of food and hope". openDemocracy. Retrieved 16 August 2023. In January, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev offered Karabakh Armenians a stark choice: accept Azerbaijani citizenship and the promise of security and equal rights, or leave altogether. "The road is not closed," Aliyev said, "it is open." ... Azerbaijan is yet to present any plans to better integrate the Karabakh Armenian population and has done nothing to de-escalate hostility. In May, Aliyev demanded the de facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh surrender and promised them amnesty, but he threatened force if they did not comply.
^ "Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict: Could it escalate again? – DW – 08/13/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 16 August 2023. However, the self-proclaimed government of Nagorno-Karabakh, made up of ethnic Armenians and calling the region the "Republic of Arzakh" since 2017, has so far refused integration into Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani President Aliyev doesn't seem interested in this solution, either. He has repeatedly called for the government and parliament of the "Republic of Arzakh" to be dissolved and for Armenians there to be integrated into Azerbaijan as "normal, loyal citizens." This was a condition upon which Aliyev recently offered to supply the trapped Armenians with aid — something they promptly rejected as a "poisoned" offer.
^ "Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh Remain Under Siege". europeanconservative.com. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023. Negotiations in this region are at an impasse, with the Armenian enclave requesting humanitarian assistance and Azerbaijan demanding integration of the Armenians into Azerbaijan.
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^ Green, Anna (20 December 2022). "Weaponizing Blockade With the Intent to Ethnically Cleanse". EVN Report. Retrieved 11 August 2023. By utilizing pseudo eco-protesters instead of military movements by Azerbaijani forces, as was the previous strategy, and causing a humanitarian crisis accompanied with false narratives and disinformation, Azerbaijan is employing hybrid warfare tactics against the Armenians. This operation is pursuing short-, mid- and long-term objectives.
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^ Johnson, Josiah (10 August 2023). "Is Nagorno-Karabakh the New Darfur?". American Enterprise Institute - AEI. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
^ Ochab, Dr Ewelina U. "Lachin Corridor Blockade Starves Nagorno-Karabakh". Forbes. Retrieved 9 August 2023. Luis Moreno Ocampo, the founding Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, argues that "there is a reasonable basis to believe that a genocide is being committed against Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023," adding that it "should be considered a genocide under Article II (c) of the [UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide] (Genocide Convention): 'Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.'" Ocampo further added that "There are no crematories, and there are no machete attacks. Starvation is the invisible genocide weapon. Without immediate dramatic change, this group of Armenians will be destroyed in a few weeks."
^ Ռ/Կ, «Ազատություն» (9 August 2023). "Top International Lawyer Calls Azerbaijani Blockade Of Nagorno-Karabakh Genocide". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 11 August 2023.
^ Cite error: The named reference :91 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ Cite error: The named reference Genocide Warning: Nagorno Karabakh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Azerbaijan: Blockade of Lachin corridor putting thousands of lives in peril must be immediately lifted". Amnesty International. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
^ Douglas, Nadja (17 May 2023). "The Significance of the Lachin Corridor in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict". The Centre for East European and International Studies.
^ Avetisyan and, Ani; Aghayev, Ismi (24 April 2023). "Azerbaijan closes Lachin Corridor to install checkpoint". OC Media. Retrieved 19 May 2023. The move is a violation of the November 2020 ceasefire agreement, which states that the Lachin Corridor falls under the control of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh.
^ von Cramon-Taubadel, Viola; Kouloglou, Stelios; Castaldo, Fabio Massimo; Hajšel, Robert; Incir, Evin; Kaljurand, Marina; Marques, Pedro; Santos, Isabel; Bielan, Adam; Fidanza, Carlo; Weimers, Charlie; Dzhambazki, Angel; Kanko, Assita; Brudzinski, Joachim Stanisław; Kruk, Elżbieta; Zalewska, Anna; Jurzyca, Eugen; Ruissen, Bert-Jan; Fragkos, Emmanouil; Ries, Frédérique; Ştefănuță, Nicolae; Bilbao Barandica, Izaskun; Šimečka, Michal; Charanzová, Dita; Auštrevičius, Petras; Hart, Javier; Paet, Urmas; Vautmans, Hilde; Strugariu, Ramona; Karlsbro, Karin; Hahn, Svenja; Grošelj, Klemen; Chastel, Olivier; Loiseau, Nathalie; Guetta, Bernard; Melchior, Karen; Cseh, Katalin; Gheorghe, Vlad. "Joint Motion for a Resolution on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh". European Parliament. RC-B9-0075/2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
^ Von Joeden-Forgey and, Elisa; Victoria Massimino, Irene (6 May 2023). "Country Visit". Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. Retrieved 19 May 2023. The Azerbaijani government erected this illegal checkpoint on April 23, 2023 to formalize the illegal blockade of Armenians in Artsakh...
^ "Statement by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on the obstruction of the Lachin Corridor". Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 4 May 2023.
^ "Statement on Azerbaijan s Noncompliance with February 22nd ICJ Order to Unblock Lachin Corridor". Lemkin Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
^ "Statement by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense". MINISTRY OF DEFENSE OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenian positions in Nagorno-Karabakh, and 2 people are reported killed". Associated Press. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b Roth, Andrew (19 September 2023). "Azerbaijan launches 'anti-terrorist' campaign in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Azerbaijan launches attack in Nagorno-Karabakh, announces 'evacuation' of Armenian population". POLITICO. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "Azerbaijan launches attack in Nagorno-Karabakh, announces 'evacuation' of Armenian population". POLITICO. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023. Siranush Sargsyan, a local Karabakh Armenian journalist, told POLITICO that neither she nor any of her family had received SMS messages warning of the attack and said it was impossible to trust Azerbaijan's "humanitarian corridor" offer to leave. "How can I trust them? They will kill me, definitely," she added.
^ "Live updates | Stepanakert under fire as Azerbaijan launches assault on Nagorno-Karabakh". OC Media. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ Green, Anna (1 September 2023). "News Watch Artsakh: September 2023". EVN Report. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ Ռ/Կ, «Ազատություն» (19 September 2023). "Karabakh Armenians Offer Talks With Baku". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Azerbaijan launches attack on Nagorno-Karabakh as peace with Armenia ends". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Armenia Accuses Azerbaijan Of Attempting 'Ethnic Cleansing' In Karabakh". www.barrons.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ Stepanian, Ruzanna; Musayelian, Lusine (19 September 2023). "Heavy Fighting Reported In Karabakh". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ Service, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani. "Azerbaijan Launches Military Operation In Breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "Air raid sirens blare in Stepanakert as Azerbaijan launches 'anti-terrorist activities'". CIVILNET. 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ Kirby, Paul (19 September 2023). "Azerbaijan launches operation against Nagorno-Karabakh". BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "Azerbaijan launches operation against Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh". CNN. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenian positions in Nagorno-Karabakh, and 2 people are reported killed". Associated Press. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "Live updates | Stepanakert under fire as Azerbaijan launches assault on Nagorno-Karabakh". OC Media. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023. Political analyst and peace activist Bahruz Samadov said the goal was the ethnic cleansing of the region's Armenian population. 'The ultimate goal is to de-Armenianize Nagorno-Karabakh. The constant ontological insecurity that Azerbaijan preserves in [Nagorno-Karabakh] is the policy that has a destination — to destroy Nagorno-Karabakh's agency. The same policy of blockage and bombardment already took place in the 1990s.'
^ "Live updates | Stepanakert under fire as Azerbaijan launches assault on Nagorno-Karabakh". OC Media. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ content. "ՀՀ ՊՆ". www.mil.am (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "Pashinyan slams calls for a 'coup' in Armenia". Al-Ahram. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b "France Seeks UN Meeting, US Plans Talks On Karabakh Fighting". Barron's. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "World reacts amid Azerbaijan-Armenia tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh attack". Aljazeera. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "Russian peacekeepers in close touch with Armenians in Karabakh, Azerbaijani officials - MFA". Trend.Az. 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
^ "Russia's Medvedev Signals that Russia Will Not Support Armenia Against Azerbaijan Offensive". The Atlas News. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[1] "Ermənistan silahlı qüvvələrinin Şuşaya atəşi nəticəsində Şuşa Şəhəri Dövlət Qoruğunun mühənidisi həlak olub". Trend News Agency (in Azerbaijani). 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[2] "Azerbaijan launches military action in Karabakh 'to disarm Armenians'". Reuters. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[3] "Nagorno-Karabakh live: Azerbaijan launches attack on Armenian positions". Al Jazeera. 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[4] ttps://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-armenia-karabakh-mine-explosions/32599318.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[5] ttps://www.reuters.com/world/azerbaijan-says-six-its-citizens-were-killed-by-land-mines-karabakh-2023-09-19/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[6] ttps://www.politico.eu/article/azerbaijan-launch-anti-terror-operation-nagorno-karabakh-armenia/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[7] ttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/19/world/europe/azerbaijan-military-nagorno-karabakh.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[8] ttps://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/asia/armenia-azerbaijan-nagorno-karabakh-bombardment-intl/index.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[:0-9] Roth, Andrew (19 September 2023). "Azerbaijan launches 'anti-terrorist' campaign in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[:22-10] "Armenia and Azerbaijan: A blockade that never ended and a peace deal hanging by a thread". Global Voices. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.

[:5422-11] Isayev, Heydar (20 April 2022). "Azerbaijan quiet as Karabakh negotiations progress". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 2 January 2023.

[:1502-12] Vock, Ido (8 June 2023). "Fear and loathing in Armenia". New Statesman. Retrieved 9 June 2023. President Aliyev told Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to 'obey the laws of Azerbaijan [and] be a loyal and normal citizen of Azerbaijan'. He threatened that if the territory's separatist institutions were not dissolved, Azerbaijan would dissolve them by force and rejected the prospect of international protections for ethnic Armenians.

[13] Bedevian, Astghik (2 March 2023). "German Leader Backs Karabakh's Right To Self-Determination". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 18 July 2023.

[14] "A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan". The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. 30 May 2023.

[wilsoncenter.org3-15] "Kennan Cable No. 81: What's at Stake in Nagorno-Karabakh: U.S. Interests and the Risk of Ethnic Cleansing | Wilson Center". www.wilsoncenter.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023. For nearly 30 years, they built a self-proclaimed independent republic with democratic elections, a free press, and a range of public institutions. Officially, it remained within the territorial boundaries of Azerbaijan, unrecognized by any foreign country, though international mediators made reference to the right of self-determination for local Armenians as part of ongoing peace talks.

[16] "A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan". Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023. The Lemkin Institute believes that, given the circumstances, the self-determination of the people of Artsakh is a form of genocide prevention in addition to a right recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and several human rights treaties and declarations, which has become part of international jus cogens. Self-determination is further a recognized right of all peoples under oppressive colonial regimes.

[:1782-17] Hauer, Neil (31 July 2023). "Karabakh blockade reaches critical point as food supplies run low". www.intellinews.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023. With Azerbaijan now starving the 120,000 people it claims are its citizens, many observers now agree that the idea that Karabakh Armenians can live safely in Ilham Aliyev's Azerbaijan is hardly credible.

[:5122-18] Boy, Ann-Dorit (18 January 2023). "Blockade in the Southern Caucasus: "There Is Every Reason to Expect More Violence This Year"". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 19 January 2023.

[:1793-19] "In Other News: Reaching the Breaking Point". CIVILNET. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.

[:1803-20] Hauer, Neil (31 July 2023). "Karabakh blockade reaches critical point as food supplies run low". www.intellinews.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023. Khachatryan's detention confirms the fears of many Karabakh Armenians that, if Azerbaijan assumes control over Karabakh, it will detain (and torture) them arbitrarily, using their participation in one or more of the wars as justification. This criteria extends to nearly every male resident of the small enclave. "Arrests with linkages to the past wars, local army or the [Karabakh] government …would quality almost all local men for detentions," wrote Olesya Vartanyan, International Crisis Group's senior analyst for the South Caucasus. The detainees can expect torture or worse, as the Armenian prisoners of war following the 2020 war conflict experienced.

[21] "A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan". The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. 30 May 2023.

[22] "A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan". Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023. The Lemkin Institute believes that, given the circumstances, the self-determination of the people of Artsakh is a form of genocide prevention in addition to a right recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and several human rights treaties and declarations, which has become part of international jus cogens. Self-determination is further a recognized right of all peoples under oppressive colonial regimes.

[BBC2-23] "Азербайджанские "активисты" блокируют дорогу из Карабаха в Армению. Одновременно в Карабахе пропал газ" [Azerbaijani "activists" are blocking the road from Karabakh to Armenia. At the same time, gas disappeared in Karabakh]. BBC News Русская Служба (in Russian).

[:121-24] Smeltzer, Mike (24 May 2023). "War Deepens a Regional Divide". Freedom House. Retrieved 25 May 2023. [Azerbaijan] launched a major incursion into the Republic of Armenia in 2022, and in early 2023 it [Azerbaijan] further isolated the ethnic Armenians who remained in Nagorno-Karabakh by blocking a crucial road link under the guise of "environmental protests".

[:122-25] "Red Flag Alert for Genocide - Azerbaijan Update 6". Lemkin Institute. Retrieved 26 May 2023. The so-called "environmentalists" who have blocked the Lachin corridor have shown themselves to be little interested in environmentalism. They chant "Karabakh is Azerbaijan" and carry signs supporting Aliyev and the Azerbaijani military....This is all a far cry from what one would see at an environmental protest.

[:2222-26] Gavin, Gabriel (13 December 2022). "Nagorno-Karabakh: protestors cause crisis in Russia's backyard". Reaction. Retrieved 27 December 2022. Tom de Waal, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and author of several books about the conflict, has claimed that the environmental protestors are akin to the "Little Green Men" used by Russia to occupy Crimea in 2014 while denying it was invading.

[:123-27] Górecki, Wojciech; Strachota, Krzysztof (6 March 2023). "The undeclared war. A new phase of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict". OSW Centre for Eastern Studies. Retrieved 14 June 2023. Although this venture is being spearheaded by alleged environmental activists demanding permission to monitor Karabakh's rare metal deposits...it would be impossible to carry out such an action in Azerbaijan without the cooperation of the authorities.

[:124-28] "Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022: Motion for a resolution Paragraph 80 a (new)" (PDF). European Parliament. 11 January 2023. The European Parliament adopted the Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022 resolution on January 18. The plenary session also adopted an amendment, saying the European parliament "strongly denounces Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, in violation of the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020, as it threatens to precipitate an intentional humanitarian crisis for the people of NagornoKarabakh; demands that the Azerbaijani authorities restore freedom of movement through the Lachin corridor with immediate effect."

[:103-29] "Treading a Tightrope on the Armenian Border: Reviewing the First Two Months of the EU's New Mission in the South Caucasus". Caucasus Watch. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023. The following week saw a reconfiguration of road links and military positions in the Lachin Corridor, with Azerbaijani forces constructing a new military post, taking control of strategic heights, ignoring Russian calls to return to their original locations, and seizing land in Armenia around the new road leading from the villages of Tegh and Kornidzor towards Karabakh.

[:128-30] Cite error: The named reference :128 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:67-31] Cite error: The named reference :67 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:68-32] Cite error: The named reference :68 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Khulian-33] Khulian, Artak; Stepanian, Ruzanna (31 March 2023). "Armenian Government Blamed For Fresh Azeri Territorial Gains". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 14 June 2023. Azerbaijani troops redeployed on Thursday morning to more parts of the Lachin district adjacent to the Armenian border, blocking the old [Lachin] corridor section.

[:82-34] Cite error: The named reference :82 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:129-35] Loe, Catherine (27 April 2023). "Azerbaijan sets up checkpoints on the Lachin corridor". Economist Intelligence Unit. Retrieved 3 May 2023. The move [installation of a checkpoint] has increased the blockade of Nagorny Karabakh...A checkpoint on the border would give Azerbaijan the ability to stop any cars travelling between Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh.

[:107-36] "Ensuring free and safe access through the Lachin Corridor". Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly. 20 June 2023. p. Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons. PDF. [the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe]...is extremely worried by events...which culminated on 12 December 2022 with the interruption of the free and safe passage through the Lachin corridor and the subsequent deliberate cutting of electricity and gas supplies to the region... [The Assembly]...urges Azerbaijan to restore electricity and gas supplies without delay or impediment.

[:108-37] Marques, Pedro; Kaljurand, Marina; Santos, Isabel; Hajšel, Robert; Incir, Evin; Loiseau, Nathalie; Auštrevičius, Petras; Bilbao Barandica, Izaskun; Charanzová, Dita; Chastel, Olivier; Cseh, Katalin; Gheorghe, Vlad; Grošelj, Klemen; Guetta, Bernard; Hahn, Svenja; Karlsbro, Karin; Melchior, Karen; Nart, Javier; Paet, Urmas; Ries, Frédérique; Šimečka, Michal; Ştefănuță, Nicolae; Strugariu, Ramona; Vautmans, Hilde; von Cramon‑Taubadel, Viola; Weimers, Charlie; Fragkos, Emmanouil; Kruk, Elżbieta; Dzhambazki, Angel; Zalewska, Anna; Brudziński, Joachim Stanisław; Kanko, Assita; Jurzyca, Eugen; Bielan, Adam; Fidanza, Carlo; Ruissen, Bert‑Jan; Kouloglou, Stelios; Castaldo, Fabio Massimo. "JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh | RC-B9-0075/2023 | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 22 June 2023. whereas this humanitarian crisis was further aggravated by Azerbaijan's disruption of the natural gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh, which left houses, hospitals and schools without heating...[the European Parliament]...urges Azerbaijan to refrain from undermining the functioning of transport, energy and communication connections between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in future.

[:62-38] Cite error: The named reference :62 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[lemkininstitute.com-39] Cite error: The named reference lemkininstitute.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Hill-40] Cite error: The named reference Hill was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:41-41] "Nagorno-Karabakh reports gas cut for second time since start of blockade". OC Media. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.

[42] "Atrocity Alert No. 358: El Salvador, Nagorno-Karabakh and UN peacekeeping - El Salvador | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023. The blockade has deprived over 120,000 ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, including 30,000 children, of life-saving resources such as food, medicine, electricity and fuel.

[43] Hauer, Neil (31 July 2023). "Karabakh blockade reaches critical point as food supplies run low". www.intellinews.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023. Occasional ICRC and Russian traffic continued to pass until June 15, at which point Azerbaijan halted all humanitarian deliveries. No food, medicine or fuel has entered Nagorno-Karabakh since.

[:135-44] POSTON, ALEXIS (7 June 2023). "State Fragility and the Shadow of Genocide in Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia (the South Caucasus) | The Fund for Peace". fundforpeace.org. Retrieved 8 June 2023. Armenian civilians of Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding regions along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border are threatened by Azerbaijan's military and face violence if they try to leave Armenian territory within disputed areas.

[:310-45] Kitachayev, Bashir (16 December 2022). "Azerbaijani roadblock cuts tens of thousands off from food, fuel and medicine". openDemocracy. Retrieved 21 December 2022.

[:97-46] "New Troubles in Nagorno-Karabakh: Understanding the Lachin Corridor Crisis". www.crisisgroup.org. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023. While travellers were already few due to the blockade, the ICRC reports that its ability to get people across has been curtailed [since the installation of the checkpoint], leaving only the Russian peacekeepers to facilitate trips to Armenia for medical care.

[:134-47] "June Alerts and May Trends 2023". www.crisisgroup.org. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023. Checkpoint on Lachin corridor faced fierce opposition amid humanitarian crisis....Azerbaijani military consolidated [the] blockade, however, leading to even fewer crossings and reduced transportation of goods.

[:162-48] Gray, Sébastien (9 January 2023). "Artsakh Blockade Nearing 1 Month, Shortages Widespread". Atlas News. Retrieved 10 January 2023.

[:302-49] Avetisyan, Ani (17 January 2023). "Nagorno-Karabakh reports gas cut for second time since start of blockade". OC Media. Retrieved 18 January 2023. Daily two-hour power cuts instituted on 9 January were replaced with four-hour daily power cuts on 17 January.

[:55-50] Cite error: The named reference :55 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:322-51] Cite error: The named reference :322 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[intellinews.com-52] Hauer, Neil (20 February 2023). "Hopelessness grows as Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh enters third month". www.intellinews.com. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[:46-53] Khulian, Artak (31 January 2023). "Azeri Blockade Leaves Thousands Of Karabakh Armenians Jobless". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[:136-54] "Uncertainty plagues Nagorno-Karabakh students pursuing higher education". CIVILNET. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023. When Azerbaijan's blockade began, kindergartens and schools were among the first institutions to be shut down due to gas supply cuts and shortages, depriving students across dozens of schools of the right to education. Since then, the operations of nearly every educational institution in Nagorno-Karabakh, including NGOs with branches in Stepanakert and across the region, have been deeply disturbed by the blockade.

[:130-55] Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Azerbaijan Says Set Up Checkpoint On Key Route To Armenia". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 23 April 2023.

[:131-56] "Azerbaijan installs checkpoint on road to Nagorno-Karabakh amid fatal clashes". Politico. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.

[57] Green, Anna (28 July 2023). ""Integration" of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians". EVN Report. Retrieved 16 August 2023.

[58] Ivanova, Polina (15 August 2023). "'People feel let down by Russia': disputed Caucasus enclave choked by blockade". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 August 2023. Others see the escalating humanitarian situation as a way to trigger an exodus. It is "indirect ethnic cleansing", said Giragosian, of the Regional Studies Center. "Not by bayonet, but rather by creating unbearable conditions." Suleymanov, the Azerbaijani ambassador, said Baku instead wanted to achieve full integration of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. "They are our citizens", he said, adding that he believed they would be passport-holders soon.

[59] "Blockaded Nagorno-Karabakh is running out of food and hope". openDemocracy. Retrieved 16 August 2023. In January, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev offered Karabakh Armenians a stark choice: accept Azerbaijani citizenship and the promise of security and equal rights, or leave altogether. "The road is not closed," Aliyev said, "it is open." ... Azerbaijan is yet to present any plans to better integrate the Karabakh Armenian population and has done nothing to de-escalate hostility. In May, Aliyev demanded the de facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh surrender and promised them amnesty, but he threatened force if they did not comply.

[60] "Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict: Could it escalate again? – DW – 08/13/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 16 August 2023. However, the self-proclaimed government of Nagorno-Karabakh, made up of ethnic Armenians and calling the region the "Republic of Arzakh" since 2017, has so far refused integration into Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani President Aliyev doesn't seem interested in this solution, either. He has repeatedly called for the government and parliament of the "Republic of Arzakh" to be dissolved and for Armenians there to be integrated into Azerbaijan as "normal, loyal citizens." This was a condition upon which Aliyev recently offered to supply the trapped Armenians with aid — something they promptly rejected as a "poisoned" offer.

[61] "Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh Remain Under Siege". europeanconservative.com. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023. Negotiations in this region are at an impasse, with the Armenian enclave requesting humanitarian assistance and Azerbaijan demanding integration of the Armenians into Azerbaijan.

[Oltramonti-62] Cite error: The named reference Oltramonti was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:138-63] "Azerbaijan Blockades Nagorno-Karabakh Region, Angering Armenia & Raising Specter of a New War". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 11 August 2023. ... Russia is not opposed to allowing Azerbaijan use a hybrid warfare strategy such as this one, which is blockading the only corridor that's a lifeline to, quite basically, eventually pressure Armenia into an actual peace deal, into concessions ...

[:189-64] Green, Anna (20 December 2022). "Weaponizing Blockade With the Intent to Ethnically Cleanse". EVN Report. Retrieved 11 August 2023. By utilizing pseudo eco-protesters instead of military movements by Azerbaijani forces, as was the previous strategy, and causing a humanitarian crisis accompanied with false narratives and disinformation, Azerbaijan is employing hybrid warfare tactics against the Armenians. This operation is pursuing short-, mid- and long-term objectives.

[:94-65] Cite error: The named reference :94 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Bulut-66] Cite error: The named reference Bulut was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:191-67] Johnson, Josiah (10 August 2023). "Is Nagorno-Karabakh the New Darfur?". American Enterprise Institute - AEI. Retrieved 11 August 2023.

[68] Ochab, Dr Ewelina U. "Lachin Corridor Blockade Starves Nagorno-Karabakh". Forbes. Retrieved 9 August 2023. Luis Moreno Ocampo, the founding Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, argues that "there is a reasonable basis to believe that a genocide is being committed against Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023," adding that it "should be considered a genocide under Article II (c) of the [UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide] (Genocide Convention): 'Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.'" Ocampo further added that "There are no crematories, and there are no machete attacks. Starvation is the invisible genocide weapon. Without immediate dramatic change, this group of Armenians will be destroyed in a few weeks."

[:192-69] Ռ/Կ, «Ազատություն» (9 August 2023). "Top International Lawyer Calls Azerbaijani Blockade Of Nagorno-Karabakh Genocide". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 11 August 2023.

[:91-70] Cite error: The named reference :91 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:193-71] Cite error: The named reference :193 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Genocide_Warning:_Nagorno_Karabakh-72] Cite error: The named reference Genocide Warning: Nagorno Karabakh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:143-73] "Azerbaijan: Blockade of Lachin corridor putting thousands of lives in peril must be immediately lifted". Amnesty International. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.

[:142-74] Douglas, Nadja (17 May 2023). "The Significance of the Lachin Corridor in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict". The Centre for East European and International Studies.

[:144-75] Avetisyan and, Ani; Aghayev, Ismi (24 April 2023). "Azerbaijan closes Lachin Corridor to install checkpoint". OC Media. Retrieved 19 May 2023. The move is a violation of the November 2020 ceasefire agreement, which states that the Lachin Corridor falls under the control of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh.

[GHEORGHE-76] von Cramon-Taubadel, Viola; Kouloglou, Stelios; Castaldo, Fabio Massimo; Hajšel, Robert; Incir, Evin; Kaljurand, Marina; Marques, Pedro; Santos, Isabel; Bielan, Adam; Fidanza, Carlo; Weimers, Charlie; Dzhambazki, Angel; Kanko, Assita; Brudzinski, Joachim Stanisław; Kruk, Elżbieta; Zalewska, Anna; Jurzyca, Eugen; Ruissen, Bert-Jan; Fragkos, Emmanouil; Ries, Frédérique; Ştefănuță, Nicolae; Bilbao Barandica, Izaskun; Šimečka, Michal; Charanzová, Dita; Auštrevičius, Petras; Hart, Javier; Paet, Urmas; Vautmans, Hilde; Strugariu, Ramona; Karlsbro, Karin; Hahn, Svenja; Grošelj, Klemen; Chastel, Olivier; Loiseau, Nathalie; Guetta, Bernard; Melchior, Karen; Cseh, Katalin; Gheorghe, Vlad. "Joint Motion for a Resolution on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh". European Parliament. RC-B9-0075/2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.

[:145-77] Von Joeden-Forgey and, Elisa; Victoria Massimino, Irene (6 May 2023). "Country Visit". Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. Retrieved 19 May 2023. The Azerbaijani government erected this illegal checkpoint on April 23, 2023 to formalize the illegal blockade of Armenians in Artsakh...

[:163-78] "Statement by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on the obstruction of the Lachin Corridor". Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 4 May 2023.

[79] "Statement on Azerbaijan s Noncompliance with February 22nd ICJ Order to Unblock Lachin Corridor". Lemkin Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2023.

[statementofazmod22-80] "Statement by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense". MINISTRY OF DEFENSE OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[apkarabakh22-81] "Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenian positions in Nagorno-Karabakh, and 2 people are reported killed". Associated Press. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[:042-82] Roth, Andrew (19 September 2023). "Azerbaijan launches 'anti-terrorist' campaign in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[:0222-83] "Azerbaijan launches attack in Nagorno-Karabakh, announces 'evacuation' of Armenian population". POLITICO. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[84] "Azerbaijan launches attack in Nagorno-Karabakh, announces 'evacuation' of Armenian population". POLITICO. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023. Siranush Sargsyan, a local Karabakh Armenian journalist, told POLITICO that neither she nor any of her family had received SMS messages warning of the attack and said it was impossible to trust Azerbaijan's "humanitarian corridor" offer to leave. "How can I trust them? They will kill me, definitely," she added.

[85] "Live updates | Stepanakert under fire as Azerbaijan launches assault on Nagorno-Karabakh". OC Media. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[86] Green, Anna (1 September 2023). "News Watch Artsakh: September 2023". EVN Report. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[87] Ռ/Կ, «Ազատություն» (19 September 2023). "Karabakh Armenians Offer Talks With Baku". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[:5-88] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Azerbaijan launches attack on Nagorno-Karabakh as peace with Armenia ends". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[:6-89] Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Armenia Accuses Azerbaijan Of Attempting 'Ethnic Cleansing' In Karabakh". www.barrons.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[90] Stepanian, Ruzanna; Musayelian, Lusine (19 September 2023). "Heavy Fighting Reported In Karabakh". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[91] Service, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani. "Azerbaijan Launches Military Operation In Breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[92] "Air raid sirens blare in Stepanakert as Azerbaijan launches 'anti-terrorist activities'". CIVILNET. 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[93] Kirby, Paul (19 September 2023). "Azerbaijan launches operation against Nagorno-Karabakh". BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[94] "Azerbaijan launches operation against Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh". CNN. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[apkarabakh-95] "Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenian positions in Nagorno-Karabakh, and 2 people are reported killed". Associated Press. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[96] "Live updates | Stepanakert under fire as Azerbaijan launches assault on Nagorno-Karabakh". OC Media. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023. Political analyst and peace activist Bahruz Samadov said the goal was the ethnic cleansing of the region's Armenian population. 'The ultimate goal is to de-Armenianize Nagorno-Karabakh. The constant ontological insecurity that Azerbaijan preserves in [Nagorno-Karabakh] is the policy that has a destination — to destroy Nagorno-Karabakh's agency. The same policy of blockage and bombardment already took place in the 1990s.'

[97] "Live updates | Stepanakert under fire as Azerbaijan launches assault on Nagorno-Karabakh". OC Media. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[98] tent. "ՀՀ ՊՆ". www.mil.am (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[99] "Pashinyan slams calls for a 'coup' in Armenia". Al-Ahram. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[Barrons-100] "France Seeks UN Meeting, US Plans Talks On Karabakh Fighting". Barron's. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[101] "World reacts amid Azerbaijan-Armenia tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh attack". Aljazeera. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[102] "Russian peacekeepers in close touch with Armenians in Karabakh, Azerbaijani officials - MFA". Trend.Az. 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

[103] "Russia's Medvedev Signals that Russia Will Not Support Armenia Against Azerbaijan Offensive". The Atlas News. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

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@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 | conflict          = 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh offensive
 | partof            = the [[Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]]
-| image             = Operation_TurnedA.png
+| image             = 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.svg
 | image_size        = 300px
-| caption           = Military situation in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023
+| caption           = Military situation in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020
 | date              = {{Start and end dates|2023|09|19|present|df=y}}<br/>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=09|day1=19|year1=2023}})
 | place             = [[Nagorno-Karabakh]]
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 == Background ==
 {{Main article|Second Nagorno-Karabakh War}}
-{{further|Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis (2021–present)|Blockade of the Republic of Artsakh (2022–present)|2023 Artsakhian presidential election}}
+{{further|Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis (2021–present)|Blockade of the Republic of Artsakh (2022–present)|2023 Artsakhian presidential election}}The '''Nagorno-Karabakh conflict''' is an [[Ethnic conflict|ethnic]] and [[Territorial dispute|territorial]] conflict between [[Armenia]] and [[Azerbaijan]] over the region of [[Nagorno-Karabakh]], which is inhabited mostly by ethnic Armenians. The Nagorno-Karabakh region is entirely claimed by and partially ''[[de facto]]'' controlled by the [[List of states with limited recognition|breakaway]] [[Republic of Artsakh]] but is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan de facto controls one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh region as well as the seven surrounding districts.
+The conflict escalated in 1988, when the [[Karabakh movement|Karabakh Armenians demanded the transfer of the region]] from [[Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic|Soviet Azerbaijan]] to [[Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic|Soviet Armenia]], triggering the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. In late 2020, the large-scale [[Second Nagorno-Karabakh War]] resulted in thousands of casualties and a significant Azerbaijani victory. An armistice was established by a tripartite [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement|ceasefire agreement]] on November 10, resulting in Armenia and Artsakh losing the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh as well as one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh itself.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-19 |title=Armenia and Azerbaijan: A blockade that never ended and a peace deal hanging by a thread |url=https://globalvoices.org/2023/07/19/armenia-and-azerbaijan-a-blockade-that-never-ended-and-a-peace-deal-hanging-by-a-thread/ |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=Global Voices |language=en}}</ref> [[Peacekeeping operations in Nagorno-Karabakh#Ceasefire violations|Ceasefire violations in Nagorno-Karabakh]] and on the [[Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis (2021–present)|Armenian-Azerbaijani border]] have continued following the 2020 war, with intermittent but ongoing casualties.
-Heavy fighting broke out along the Azerbaijan-Nagorno-Karabakh border in September 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explainer: What is Nagorno-Karabakh and why are tensions rising? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/24/explainer-what-is-nagorno-karabakh-why-are-tensions-rising |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918132517/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/24/explainer-what-is-nagorno-karabakh-why-are-tensions-rising |url-status=live }}</ref> following a summer of cross-border strikes. More than 7,000 military and civilians were killed, and hundreds more soldiers from Armenia and Azerbaijan were injured.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-05-30 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh profile |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18270325 |access-date=2023-09-19 |archive-date=2020-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130074208/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18270325 |url-status=live }}</ref> Both nations originally rebuffed calls for discussions and an end to hostilities from the [[United Nations]], the [[United States]], and [[Russia]] and vowed to continue hostilities. When both sides shifted from cross-border bombardment to longer-range artillery and other heavy weapons, tensions increased even further.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-11 |title=Azerbaijan: Unlawful Strikes in Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/11/azerbaijan-unlawful-strikes-nagorno-karabakh |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024115742/https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/11/azerbaijan-unlawful-strikes-nagorno-karabakh |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Since the 2020 war, Azerbaijan has rescinded its offer of special status or autonomy to its indigenous Armenian residents and instead insists on their "integration" into Azerbaijan.<ref name=":5422">{{Cite web |last=Isayev |first=Heydar |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Azerbaijan quiet as Karabakh negotiations progress |url=https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijan-quiet-as-karabakh-negotiations-progress |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=eurasianet.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1502">{{Cite web |last=Vock |first=Ido |date=2023-06-08 |title=Fear and loathing in Armenia |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2023/06/fear-loathing-in-armenia-azerbaijan |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US |quote=President Aliyev told Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to 'obey the laws of Azerbaijan [and] be a loyal and normal citizen of Azerbaijan'. He threatened that if the territory’s separatist institutions were not dissolved, Azerbaijan would dissolve them by force and rejected the prospect of international protections for ethnic Armenians.}}</ref> International mediators and human rights organizations have emphasized self-determination for the local Armenian population<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bedevian |first=Astghik |date=2023-03-02 |title=German Leader Backs Karabakh's Right To Self-Determination |language=hy |work=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32296669.html |access-date=2023-07-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-30 |title=A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan |url=https://www.lemkininstitute.com/statements-new-page/a-peace-to-end-all-peace%3F--statement-on-the-international-actors-sponsoring-so-called-peace-negotiations-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan- |website=The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention}}</ref><ref name="wilsoncenter.org3">{{Cite web |title=Kennan Cable No. 81: What's at Stake in Nagorno-Karabakh: U.S. Interests and the Risk of Ethnic Cleansing {{!}} Wilson Center |url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/kennan-cable-no-81-whats-stake-nagorno-karabakh-us-interests-and-risk-ethnic-cleansing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404191938/https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/kennan-cable-no-81-whats-stake-nagorno-karabakh-us-interests-and-risk-ethnic-cleansing |archive-date=2023-04-04 |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=www.wilsoncenter.org |language=en |quote=For nearly 30 years, they built a self-proclaimed independent republic with democratic elections, a free press, and a range of public institutions. Officially, it remained within the territorial boundaries of Azerbaijan, unrecognized by any foreign country, though international mediators made reference to the right of self-determination for local Armenians as part of ongoing peace talks.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title=A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan |url=https://www.lemkininstitute.com/statements-new-page/a-peace-to-end-all-peace%3F--statement-on-the-international-actors-sponsoring-so-called-peace-negotiations-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531140324/https://www.lemkininstitute.com/statements-new-page/a-peace-to-end-all-peace%3F--statement-on-the-international-actors-sponsoring-so-called-peace-negotiations-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan- |archive-date=2023-05-31 |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention |quote=The Lemkin Institute believes that, given the circumstances, the self-determination of the people of Artsakh is a form of genocide prevention in addition to a right recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and several human rights treaties and declarations, which has become part of international jus cogens. Self-determination is further a recognized right of all peoples under oppressive colonial regimes.}}</ref> and do not believe that Artsakh Armenians can live safely under the regime of Azerbaijani President Aliyev.<ref name=":1782">{{Cite web |last=Hauer |first=Neil |date=2023-07-31 |title=Karabakh blockade reaches critical point as food supplies run low |url=https://www.intellinews.com/karabakh-blockade-reaches-critical-point-as-food-supplies-run-low-286173/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=www.intellinews.com |language=en |quote=With Azerbaijan now starving the 120,000 people it claims are its citizens, many observers now agree that the idea that Karabakh Armenians can live safely in Ilham Aliyev’s Azerbaijan is hardly credible.}}</ref><ref name=":5122">{{cite news |last=Boy |first=Ann-Dorit |date=18 January 2023 |title=Blockade in the Southern Caucasus: "There Is Every Reason to Expect More Violence This Year" |language=en |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/blockade-in-the-southern-caucasus-there-is-every-reason-to-expect-more-violence-this-year-a-639a972e-cc4e-477d-99f2-766beb2fcbea |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref><ref name=":1793">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-31 |title=In Other News: Reaching the Breaking Point |url=https://www.civilnet.am/en/news/746065/in-other-news-reaching-the-breaking-point/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=CIVILNET |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1803">{{Cite web |last=Hauer |first=Neil |date=2023-07-31 |title=Karabakh blockade reaches critical point as food supplies run low |url=https://www.intellinews.com/karabakh-blockade-reaches-critical-point-as-food-supplies-run-low-286173/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=www.intellinews.com |language=en |quote=Khachatryan’s detention confirms the fears of many Karabakh Armenians that, if Azerbaijan assumes control over Karabakh, it will detain (and torture) them arbitrarily, using their participation in one or more of the wars as justification. This criteria extends to nearly every male resident of the small enclave. “Arrests with linkages to the past wars, local army or the [Karabakh] government …would quality almost all local men for detentions,” wrote Olesya Vartanyan, International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for the South Caucasus. The detainees can expect torture or worse, as the Armenian prisoners of war following the 2020 war conflict experienced.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-30 |title=A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan |url=https://www.lemkininstitute.com/statements-new-page/a-peace-to-end-all-peace%3F--statement-on-the-international-actors-sponsoring-so-called-peace-negotiations-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan- |website=The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title=A Peace to End All Peace? Statement on the International Actors Sponsoring So-Called Peace Negotiations Between Armenia and Azerbaijan |url=https://www.lemkininstitute.com/statements-new-page/a-peace-to-end-all-peace%3F--statement-on-the-international-actors-sponsoring-so-called-peace-negotiations-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531140324/https://www.lemkininstitute.com/statements-new-page/a-peace-to-end-all-peace%3F--statement-on-the-international-actors-sponsoring-so-called-peace-negotiations-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan- |archive-date=2023-05-31 |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention |quote=The Lemkin Institute believes that, given the circumstances, the self-determination of the people of Artsakh is a form of genocide prevention in addition to a right recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and several human rights treaties and declarations, which has become part of international jus cogens. Self-determination is further a recognized right of all peoples under oppressive colonial regimes.}}</ref> Since December 2022, Azerbaijan has [[Blockade of the Republic of Artsakh (2022–present)|blockaded the Republic of Artsakh]] from the outside world, in violation of the 2020 ceasefire agreement and international legal rulings.
-Russia helped mediate a deal on 9 November 2020, ending the six-week war after multiple unsuccessful attempts by Russia, France, and the United States to negotiate a truce. Only a fraction of Karabakh was left to Armenia with most of the land lost to Azerbaijan twenty years earlier was regained.{{clarification|reason=Who lost/regained those territories?}} The deal also established the [[Lachin corridor]], a short stretch of land that would be used as a transit route between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh and be supervised by Russian "peacekeeping forces".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Новости |first=Р. И. А. |date=2020-11-10 |title=Путин выступил с заявлением о прекращении огня в Карабахе |url=https://ria.ru/20201110/karabakh-1583847112.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=РИА Новости |language=ru |archive-date=2020-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109224030/https://ria.ru/20201110/karabakh-1583847112.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-11-10 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh: Russia deploys peacekeeping troops to region |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54885906 |access-date=2023-09-19 |archive-date=2020-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203024454/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54885906 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-11 |title=Azerbaijan: Unlawful Strikes in Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/11/azerbaijan-unlawful-strikes-nagorno-karabakh |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024115742/https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/11/azerbaijan-unlawful-strikes-nagorno-karabakh |url-status=live }}</ref>
+== Prelude ==
-Without effective efforts at mediation, continued ceasefire violations and heightened tensions pose a possibility of rekindling a major conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Periodic violations of the 2020 ceasefire terms have escalated into clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijan forces, most notably a two-day conflict starting on 13 September 2022 which was the most significant escalation since 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-13 |title=Armenia, Azerbaijan report deadly border clashes |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/europe/armenia-azerbaijan-report-deadly-border-clashes-1.1663024737190 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913004346/https://gulfnews.com/world/europe/armenia-azerbaijan-report-deadly-border-clashes-1.1663024737190 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-13 |title=Fresh clashes erupt between Azerbaijan, Armenia |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/fresh-clashes-erupt-between-azerbaijan-armenia-2022-09-12/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |archive-date=2022-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913004343/https://www.reuters.com/world/fresh-clashes-erupt-between-azerbaijan-armenia-2022-09-12/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Azerbaijan launched attacks on several locations inside Armenian territory, which forced the evacuation of more than 2,700 civilians. Armenia and Azerbaijan have exchanged accusations of blame for initiating the violence. Additional border clashes were reported on 21, 23, and 28 September.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=Deployment of international observer mission on border could be a solution: Pashinyan says |url=https://www.1lurer.am/en/2022/09/29/Deployment-of-international-observer-mission-on-border-could-be-a-solution-Pashinyan-says/804624 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=www.1lurer.am |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218095425/https://www.1lurer.am/en/2022/09/29/Deployment-of-international-observer-mission-on-border-could-be-a-solution-Pashinyan-says/804624 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-23 |title=We call on Azerbaijan to return the troops to their initial positions: US Embassy to Armenia |url=https://www.1lurer.am/en/2022/09/23/We-call-on-Azerbaijan-to-return-the-troops-to-their-initial-positions-US-Embassy-to-Armenia/801431 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=www.1lurer.am |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206133723/https://www.1lurer.am/en/2022/09/23/We-call-on-Azerbaijan-to-return-the-troops-to-their-initial-positions-US-Embassy-to-Armenia/801431 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Since 12 December 2022, Azerbaijan has [[Blockade|blockaded]] the Republic of Artsakh.<ref name="BBC2">{{Cite news |title=Азербайджанские "активисты" блокируют дорогу из Карабаха в Армению. Одновременно в Карабахе пропал газ |language=ru |trans-title=Azerbaijani "activists" are blocking the road from Karabakh to Armenia. At the same time, gas disappeared in Karabakh |work=BBC News Русская Служба |url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-63975080}}</ref><ref name=":121">{{Cite web |last=Smeltzer |first=Mike |date=2023-05-24 |title=War Deepens a Regional Divide |url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/nations-transit/2023/war-deepens-regional-divide |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Freedom House |language=en |quote=[Azerbaijan] launched a major incursion into the Republic of Armenia in 2022, and in early 2023 it [Azerbaijan] further isolated the ethnic Armenians who remained in Nagorno-Karabakh by blocking a crucial road link under the guise of "environmental protests".}}</ref><ref name=":122">{{Cite web |title=Red Flag Alert for Genocide - Azerbaijan Update 6 |url=https://www.lemkininstitute.com/red-flag-alerts-1/red-flag-alert-for-genocide---azerbaijan-update-6 |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Lemkin Institute |language=en |quote=The so-called "environmentalists" who have blocked the Lachin corridor have shown themselves to be little interested in environmentalism. They chant "Karabakh is Azerbaijan" and carry signs supporting Aliyev and the Azerbaijani military....This is all a far cry from what one would see at an environmental protest.}}</ref><ref name=":2222">{{Cite web |last=Gavin |first=Gabriel |date=2022-12-13 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh: protestors cause crisis in Russia's backyard |url=https://reaction.life/nagorno-karabakh-protestors-cause-crisis-in-russias-backyard/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Reaction |language=en-GB |quote=Tom de Waal, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and author of several books about the conflict, has claimed that the environmental protestors are akin to the “Little Green Men” used by Russia to occupy Crimea in 2014 while denying it was invading.}}</ref><ref name=":123">{{Cite web |last1=Górecki |first1=Wojciech |last2=Strachota |first2=Krzysztof |date=2023-03-06 |title=The undeclared war. A new phase of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict |url=https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2023-03-06/undeclared-war-a-new-phase-azerbaijani-armenian-conflict |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=OSW Centre for Eastern Studies |language=en |quote=Although this venture is being spearheaded by alleged environmental activists demanding permission to monitor Karabakh’s rare metal deposits...it would be impossible to carry out such an action in Azerbaijan without the cooperation of the authorities.}}</ref><ref name=":124">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-11 |title=Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022: Motion for a resolution Paragraph 80 a (new) |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2022-0292-AM-047-054_EN.pdf |website=European Parliament |quote=The European Parliament adopted the Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022 resolution on January 18. The plenary session also adopted an amendment, saying the European parliament “strongly denounces Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, in violation of the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020, as it threatens to precipitate an intentional humanitarian crisis for the people of NagornoKarabakh; demands that the Azerbaijani authorities restore freedom of movement through the Lachin corridor with immediate effect.”}}</ref> The Azeri government [[Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis (2021–present)#Armenian territory occupied by Azerbaijan|seized territory around the Lachin corridor both within Artsakh and Armenia]], blocked alternative bypass routes, and installed a military checkpoint.<ref name=":103">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=Treading a Tightrope on the Armenian Border: Reviewing the First Two Months of the EU's New Mission in the South Caucasus |url=https://caucasuswatch.de/en/insights/treading-a-tightrope-on-the-armenian-border-reviewing-the-first-two-months-of-the-eus-new-mission-in-the-south-caucasus.html |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Caucasus Watch |language=en |quote=The following week saw a reconfiguration of road links and military positions in the Lachin Corridor, with Azerbaijani forces constructing a new military post, taking control of strategic heights, ignoring Russian calls to return to their original locations, and seizing land in Armenia around the new road leading from the villages of Tegh and Kornidzor towards Karabakh.}}</ref><ref name=":128" /><ref name=":67" /><ref name=":68" /><ref name="Khulian">{{Cite news |last1=Khulian |first1=Artak |last2=Stepanian |first2=Ruzanna |date=2023-03-31 |title=Armenian Government Blamed For Fresh Azeri Territorial Gains |language=hy |work=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32343733.html |access-date=2023-06-14 |quote=Azerbaijani troops redeployed on Thursday morning to more parts of the Lachin district adjacent to the Armenian border, blocking the old [Lachin] corridor section.}}</ref><ref name=":82" /><ref name=":129">{{Cite web |last=Loe |first=Catherine |date=2023-04-27 |title=Azerbaijan sets up checkpoints on the Lachin corridor |url=https://www.eiu.com/n/azerbaijan-sets-up-checkpoints-on-the-lachin-corridor/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Economist Intelligence Unit |language=en-GB |quote=The move [installation of a checkpoint] has increased the blockade of Nagorny Karabakh...A checkpoint on the border would give Azerbaijan the ability to stop any cars travelling between Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh.}}</ref> Azerbaijan has also sabotaged critical civilian infrastructure of Artsakh, including gas, electricity, and Internet access.<ref name=":107">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Ensuring free and safe access through the Lachin Corridor |url=https://pace.coe.int/en/files/32878#trace-1 |website=Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly |page=Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons |id=[https://pace.coe.int/pdf/551cb5fac5d1cae7ab2a869060d3c0b59bc4adb056a35fe0d0e670f62cd78694/doc.%2015796.pdf PDF] |quote=[the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe]...is extremely worried by events...which culminated on 12 December 2022 with the interruption of the free and safe passage through the Lachin corridor and the subsequent deliberate cutting of electricity and gas supplies to the region... [The Assembly]...urges Azerbaijan to restore electricity and gas supplies without delay or impediment.}}</ref><ref name=":108">{{Cite web |last1=Marques |first1=Pedro |last2=Kaljurand |first2=Marina |last3=Santos |first3=Isabel |last4=Hajšel |first4=Robert |last5=Incir |first5=Evin |last6=Loiseau |first6=Nathalie |last7=Auštrevičius |first7=Petras |last8=Bilbao Barandica |first8=Izaskun |last9=Charanzová |first9=Dita |title=JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh {{!}} RC-B9-0075/2023 {{!}} European Parliament |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-9-2023-0075_EN.html |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |language=en |quote=whereas this humanitarian crisis was further aggravated by Azerbaijan’s disruption of the natural gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh, which left houses, hospitals and schools without heating...[the European Parliament]...urges Azerbaijan to refrain from undermining the functioning of transport, energy and communication connections between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in future. |first10=Olivier |last10=Chastel |first11=Katalin |last11=Cseh |first12=Vlad |last12=Gheorghe |first13=Klemen |last13=Grošelj |first14=Bernard |last14=Guetta |first15=Svenja |last15=Hahn |first16=Karin |last16=Karlsbro |first17=Karen |last17=Melchior |first18=Javier |last18=Nart |first19=Urmas |last19=Paet |first20=Frédérique |last20=Ries |first21=Michal |last21=Šimečka |first22=Nicolae |last22=Ştefănuță |first23=Ramona |last23=Strugariu |first24=Hilde |last24=Vautmans |first25=Viola |last25=von Cramon‑Taubadel |first26=Charlie |last26=Weimers |first27=Emmanouil |last27=Fragkos |first28=Elżbieta |last28=Kruk |first29=Angel |last29=Dzhambazki |first30=Anna |last30=Zalewska |first31=Joachim Stanisław |last31=Brudziński |first32=Assita |last32=Kanko |first33=Eugen |last33=Jurzyca |first34=Adam |last34=Bielan |first35=Carlo |last35=Fidanza |first36=Bert‑Jan |last36=Ruissen |first37=Stelios |last37=Kouloglou |first38=Fabio Massimo |last38=Castaldo}}</ref><ref name=":62" /><ref name="lemkininstitute.com" /><ref name="Hill" /><ref name=":41">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh reports gas cut for second time since start of blockade |url=https://oc-media.org/nagorno-karabakh-reports-gas-cut-for-second-time-since-start-of-blockade/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=OC Media |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=Atrocity Alert No. 358: El Salvador, Nagorno-Karabakh and UN peacekeeping - El Salvador {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/el-salvador/atrocity-alert-no-358-el-salvador-nagorno-karabakh-and-un-peacekeeping |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en |quote=The blockade has deprived over 120,000 ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, including 30,000 children, of life-saving resources such as food, medicine, electricity and fuel.}}</ref>
+The blockade has created a humanitarian crisis for the population of Artsakh; imports of essential goods have been blocked, as well as humanitarian convoys of the Red Cross and the Russian peacekeepers, trapping the 120,000 residents of the region.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hauer |first=Neil |date=2023-07-31 |title=Karabakh blockade reaches critical point as food supplies run low |url=https://www.intellinews.com/karabakh-blockade-reaches-critical-point-as-food-supplies-run-low-286173/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=www.intellinews.com |language=en |quote=Occasional ICRC and Russian traffic continued to pass until June 15, at which point Azerbaijan halted all humanitarian deliveries. No food, medicine or fuel has entered Nagorno-Karabakh since.}}</ref><ref name=":135">{{Cite web |last=POSTON |first=ALEXIS |date=2023-06-07 |title=State Fragility and the Shadow of Genocide in Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia (the South Caucasus) {{!}} The Fund for Peace |url=https://fundforpeace.org/2023/06/07/STATE-FRAGILITY-AND-THE-SHADOW-OF-GENOCIDE-IN-NAGORNO-KARABAKH-AND-ARMENIA-THE-SOUTH-CAUCASUS/#_ftn20 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=fundforpeace.org |quote=Armenian civilians of Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding regions along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border are threatened by Azerbaijan’s military and face violence if they try to leave Armenian territory within disputed areas.}}</ref><ref name=":62" /><ref name=":310">{{Cite web |last=Kitachayev |first=Bashir |date=16 December 2022 |title=Azerbaijani roadblock cuts tens of thousands off from food, fuel and medicine |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-armenia-roadblock/ |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=[[openDemocracy]]}}</ref><ref name=":97">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-22 |title=New Troubles in Nagorno-Karabakh: Understanding the Lachin Corridor Crisis |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/caucasus/nagorno-karabakh-conflict/new-troubles-nagorno-karabakh-understanding-lachin-corridor-crisis |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.crisisgroup.org |language=en |quote=While travellers were already few due to the blockade, the ICRC reports that its ability to get people across has been curtailed [since the installation of the checkpoint], leaving only the Russian peacekeepers to facilitate trips to Armenia for medical care.}}</ref><ref name=":134">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-31 |title=June Alerts and May Trends 2023 |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/june-alerts-and-may-trends-2023 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.crisisgroup.org |language=en |quote=Checkpoint on Lachin corridor faced fierce opposition amid humanitarian crisis....Azerbaijani military consolidated [the] blockade, however, leading to even fewer crossings and reduced transportation of goods.}}</ref> Shortages of essential goods{{Snd}}including electricity, fuel, and water reserves{{Snd}}are widespread and emergency reserves are being rationed, alongside massive unemployment, and closures of schools and public transportation.<ref name=":162">{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Sébastien |date=2023-01-09 |title=Artsakh Blockade Nearing 1 Month, Shortages Widespread |url=https://theatlasnews.co/conflict/2023/01/09/artsakh-blockade-nearing-1-month-shortages-widespread/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Atlas News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":302">{{Cite web |last=Avetisyan |first=Ani |date=2023-01-17 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh reports gas cut for second time since start of blockade |url=https://oc-media.org/nagorno-karabakh-reports-gas-cut-for-second-time-since-start-of-blockade/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=OC Media |language=en-US |quote="Daily two-hour power cuts instituted on 9 January were replaced with four-hour daily power cuts on 17 January."}}</ref><ref name=":55" /><ref name=":322" /><ref name="intellinews.com">{{Cite web |last=Hauer |first=Neil |date=2023-02-20 |title=Hopelessness grows as Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh enters third month |url=https://www.intellinews.com/hopelessness-grows-as-azerbaijan-s-blockade-of-nagorno-karabakh-enters-third-month-270518/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=www.intellinews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":46">{{Cite news |last=Khulian |first=Artak |date=2023-01-31 |title=Azeri Blockade Leaves Thousands Of Karabakh Armenians Jobless |language=hy |work=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32247853.html |access-date=2023-02-20}}</ref><ref name=":136">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Uncertainty plagues Nagorno-Karabakh students pursuing higher education |url=https://www.civilnet.am/en/news/742289/uncertainty-plagues-nagorno-karabakh-students-pursuing-higher-education/ |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=CIVILNET |language=en-US |quote=When Azerbaijan’s blockade began, kindergartens and schools were among the first institutions to be shut down due to gas supply cuts and shortages, depriving students across dozens of schools of the right to education. Since then, the operations of nearly every educational institution in Nagorno-Karabakh, including NGOs with branches in Stepanakert and across the region, have been deeply disturbed by the blockade.}}</ref>
-Azerbaijani protestors took over the Lachin corridor in December 2022, ostensibly in protest of environmental damage brought on by illicit mining in Nagorno-Karabakh. The demonstrators, who allegedly had support from Baku's government, barred all traffic besides Red Cross and Russian convoys.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Service |first=RFE/RL's Armenian |title=Azerbaijani President Meets Top EU Official Ahead Of Broader Talks On Peace Settlement |language=en |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-protest-karabakh-lachin-blockade/32503282.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |archive-date=2023-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917214624/https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-protest-karabakh-lachin-blockade/32503282.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blakemore |first=Reka |date=2023-06-14 |title=Azerbaijan Postpones Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Talks Until Further Notice |url=https://theowp.org/azerbaijan-postpones-nagorno-karabakh-peace-talks-until-further-notice/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=The Organization for World Peace |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919124810/https://theowp.org/azerbaijan-postpones-nagorno-karabakh-peace-talks-until-further-notice/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-08 |title=Armenian protesters demanding Lachin corridor unblock |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/08/08/Armenian-protesters-demanding-Lachin-corridor-unblock |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809184456/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/08/08/Armenian-protesters-demanding-Lachin-corridor-unblock |url-status=live }}</ref> The Russian peacekeepers who were supposed to maintain the route secure and open so that supplies could reach Armenia were either unwilling or unable to do so. As a result, rationing and severe shortages were experienced by the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ochab |first=Dr Ewelina U. |title=Lachin Corridor Blockade Starves Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2023/08/08/lachin-corridor-blockade-starves-nagorno-karabakh/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810234901/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2023/08/08/lachin-corridor-blockade-starves-nagorno-karabakh/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-22 |title=World Court orders Azerbaijan to ensure free movement to Nagorno-Karabakh |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/world-court-orders-azerbaijan-ensure-free-passage-through-lachin-corridor-2023-02-22/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |archive-date=2023-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628110851/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/world-court-orders-azerbaijan-ensure-free-passage-through-lachin-corridor-2023-02-22/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-12 |title=European Churches urge action for humanitarian crisis in Upper Karabakh - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-08/european-churches-urge-action-for-crisis-in-upper-karabakh.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=www.vaticannews.va |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815185245/https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-08/european-churches-urge-action-for-crisis-in-upper-karabakh.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Azerbaijan claims its actions are aimed at preventing the transportation of weapons and natural resources;<ref name=":130">{{Cite web |last=Presse |first=AFP-Agence France |title=Azerbaijan Says Set Up Checkpoint On Key Route To Armenia |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/azerbaijan-says-set-up-checkpoint-on-key-route-to-armenia-485578b0 |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=www.barrons.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":131">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-23 |title=Azerbaijan installs checkpoint on road to Nagorno-Karabakh amid fatal clashes |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/azerbaijan-installs-checkpoint-on-road-to-nagorno-karabakh-amid-fatal-clashes/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Politico |language=en}}</ref> Azerbaijan also says its goal is for Artsakh's "integration" into Azerbaijan, despite opposition from the population, and has threatened military action if the [[Government of Artsakh|Artsakh government]] does not dissolve.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Anna |date=2023-07-28 |title="Integration" of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians |url=https://evnreport.com/politics/integration-of-nagorno-karabakh-armenians-a-tool-for-subjugation-and-ethnic-cleansing-by-azerbaijan/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=EVN Report |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ivanova |first=Polina |date=2023-08-15 |title='People feel let down by Russia': disputed Caucasus enclave choked by blockade |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d5488713-bd05-4895-abc3-e936a42664ba |access-date=2023-08-16 |quote=Others see the escalating humanitarian situation as a way to trigger an exodus. It is "indirect ethnic cleansing", said Giragosian, of the Regional Studies Center. "Not by bayonet, but rather by creating unbearable conditions." Suleymanov, the Azerbaijani ambassador, said Baku instead wanted to achieve full integration of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. "They are our citizens", he said, adding that he believed they would be passport-holders soon.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Blockaded Nagorno-Karabakh is running out of food and hope |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/nagorno-karabakh-blockade-200-days-azerbaijan-armenia/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=openDemocracy |language=en |quote=In January, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev offered Karabakh Armenians a stark choice: accept Azerbaijani citizenship and the promise of security and equal rights, or leave altogether. “The road is not closed,” Aliyev said, “it is open.” ... Azerbaijan is yet to present any plans to better integrate the Karabakh Armenian population and has done nothing to de-escalate hostility. In May, Aliyev demanded the de facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh surrender and promised them amnesty, but he threatened force if they did not comply.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict: Could it escalate again? – DW – 08/13/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-could-it-escalate-again/a-66518099 |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=dw.com |language=en |quote=However, the self-proclaimed government of Nagorno-Karabakh, made up of ethnic Armenians and calling the region the "Republic of Arzakh" since 2017, has so far refused integration into Azerbaijan.<br><br>Azerbaijani President Aliyev doesn't seem interested in this solution, either. He has repeatedly called for the government and parliament of the "Republic of Arzakh" to be dissolved and for Armenians there to be integrated into Azerbaijan as "normal, loyal citizens." This was a condition upon which Aliyev recently offered to supply the trapped Armenians with aid — something they promptly rejected as a "poisoned" offer.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-08 |title=Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh Remain Under Siege |url=https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/armenians-in-nagorno-karabakh-remain-under-siege/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=europeanconservative.com |language=en-US |quote=Negotiations in this region are at an impasse, with the Armenian enclave requesting humanitarian assistance and Azerbaijan demanding integration of the Armenians into Azerbaijan.}}</ref>
-Azerbaijan opened a roadblock on the route on 23 April 2023, claiming that it was required to stop and intercept weapons shipments from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. Days later, the demonstrations came to a stop, indicating that the government's ultimate goal was to obstruct Armenian immigration. Armenia and ethnic Armenian officials in Nagorno-Karabakh{{whom|reason=Al Jazeera source mentions the Armenian branch of the Red Cross and "Yerevan" while France24 clarifies the latter as coming from the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan}} denounced the roadblock, alleging that it was an attempt by Azerbaijan to isolate Armenians in Karabakh and bolster its hold on the area.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan accuses Red Cross of smuggling, shuts road to Karabakh |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/11/azerbaijan-accuses-red-cross-of-smuggling-shuts-road-to-karabakh |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919043443/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/11/azerbaijan-accuses-red-cross-of-smuggling-shuts-road-to-karabakh |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-15 |title=Armenia says Azerbaijan behind Nagorno-Karabakh roadblock 'crisis' |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20221215-armenia-says-azerbaijan-behind-nagorno-karabakh-roadblock-crisis |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229093106/https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20221215-armenia-says-azerbaijan-behind-nagorno-karabakh-roadblock-crisis |url-status=live }}</ref> Russia, on the other hand, merely made a brief statement disapproving the action. Russia's reputation as a reliable security guarantee has suffered from the peacekeeping force's complacency in the face of repeated attempts to obstruct Armenia's access to the area.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijani roadblock cuts off food |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-armenia-roadblock/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=openDemocracy |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226154334/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-armenia-roadblock/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=UN court orders Azerbaijan to end Nagorno-Karabakh roadblock |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/22/un-court-orders-azerbaijan-to-end-nagorno-karabakh-roadblock |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905133809/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/22/un-court-orders-azerbaijan-to-end-nagorno-karabakh-roadblock |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2023-02-22 |title=UN court calls for end to Nagorno-Karabakh roadblock |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-nations-international-court-of-justice-armenia-azerbaijan-43f8071d0877147203b44a8692a0df5c |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806184115/https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-nations-international-court-of-justice-armenia-azerbaijan-43f8071d0877147203b44a8692a0df5c |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Numerous countries, international organizations, and human rights observers have condemned Azerbaijan's blockade and consider it to be a form of [[hybrid warfare]],<ref name="Oltramonti" /><ref name=":138">{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan Blockades Nagorno-Karabakh Region, Angering Armenia & Raising Specter of a New War |url=https://www.democracynow.org/2023/1/19/nagorno_karabakh_tensions_rise |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Democracy Now! |language=en |quote=... Russia is not opposed to allowing Azerbaijan use a hybrid warfare strategy such as this one, which is blockading the only corridor that’s a lifeline to, quite basically, eventually pressure Armenia into an actual peace deal, into concessions ...}}</ref><ref name=":189">{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Anna |date=2022-12-20 |title=Weaponizing Blockade With the Intent to Ethnically Cleanse |url=https://evnreport.com/spotlight-karabakh/weaponizing-blockade-with-the-intent-to-ethnically-cleanse/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=EVN Report |language=en-US |quote=By utilizing pseudo eco-protesters instead of military movements by Azerbaijani forces, as was the previous strategy, and causing a humanitarian crisis accompanied with false narratives and disinformation, Azerbaijan is employing hybrid warfare tactics against the Armenians. This operation is pursuing short-, mid- and long-term objectives.}}</ref> ethnic cleansing,<ref name=":94" /><ref name="Bulut" /><ref name=":191">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Josiah |date=2023-08-10 |title=Is Nagorno-Karabakh the New Darfur? |url=https://www.aei.org/foreign-and-defense-policy/is-nagorno-karabakh-the-new-darfur/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=American Enterprise Institute - AEI |language=en-US}}</ref> and genocide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ochab |first=Dr Ewelina U. |title=Lachin Corridor Blockade Starves Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2023/08/08/lachin-corridor-blockade-starves-nagorno-karabakh/ |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Forbes |language=en |quote=Luis Moreno Ocampo, the founding Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, argues that "there is a reasonable basis to believe that a genocide is being committed against Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023," adding that it "should be considered a genocide under Article II (c) of the [UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide] (Genocide Convention): 'Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.'" Ocampo further added that “There are no crematories, and there are no machete attacks. Starvation is the invisible genocide weapon. Without immediate dramatic change, this group of Armenians will be destroyed in a few weeks.”}}</ref><ref name=":192">{{Cite news |last=Ռ/Կ |first=«Ազատություն» |date=2023-08-09 |title=Top International Lawyer Calls Azerbaijani Blockade Of Nagorno-Karabakh Genocide |language=hy |work=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32540730.html |access-date=2023-08-11}}</ref><ref name=":91" /><ref name=":193" /><ref name="Genocide Warning: Nagorno Karabakh" /><ref name=":62" /> Multiple international observers also consider the blockade and the inaction of the [[Peacekeeping operations in Nagorno-Karabakh|Russian peacekeepers]] to be violations of the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement|tripartite ceasefire agreement]] signed between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, which ended the [[Second Nagorno-Karabakh War]] and guarantees safe passage through the Lachin corridor.<ref name=":143">{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=Azerbaijan: Blockade of Lachin corridor putting thousands of lives in peril must be immediately lifted |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/02/azerbaijan-blockade-of-lachin-corridor-putting-thousands-of-lives-in-peril-must-be-immediately-lifted/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Amnesty International |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":142">{{Cite web |last=Douglas |first=Nadja |date=2023-05-17 |title=The Significance of the Lachin Corridor in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict |url=https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/publications/zois-spotlight/the-significance-of-the-lachin-corridor-in-the-nagorno-karabakh-conflict |website=The Centre for East European and International Studies}}</ref><ref name=":144">{{Cite web |last1=Avetisyan and |first1=Ani |last2=Aghayev |first2=Ismi |date=2023-04-24 |title=Azerbaijan closes Lachin Corridor to install checkpoint |url=https://oc-media.org/azerbaijan-closes-lachin-corridor-to-install-checkpoint/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=OC Media |language=en-US |quote=The move is a violation of the November 2020 ceasefire agreement, which states that the Lachin Corridor falls under the control of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh.}}</ref><ref name="Bulut" /><ref name="GHEORGHE">{{Cite web |last1=von Cramon-Taubadel |first1=Viola |last2=Kouloglou |first2=Stelios |last3=Castaldo |first3=Fabio Massimo |last4=Hajšel |first4=Robert |last5=Incir |first5=Evin |last6=Kaljurand |first6=Marina |last7=Marques |first7=Pedro |last8=Santos |first8=Isabel |last9=Bielan |first9=Adam |title=Joint Motion for a Resolution on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-9-2023-0075_EN.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=European Parliament |language=en |id=RC-B9-0075/2023 |first10=Carlo |last10=Fidanza |first11=Charlie |last11=Weimers |first12=Angel |last12=Dzhambazki |first13=Assita |last13=Kanko |first14=Joachim Stanisław |last14=Brudzinski |first15=Elżbieta |last15=Kruk |first16=Anna |last16=Zalewska |first17=Eugen |last17=Jurzyca |first18=Bert-Jan |last18=Ruissen |first19=Emmanouil |last19=Fragkos |first20=Frédérique |last20=Ries |first21=Nicolae |last21=Ştefănuță |first22=Izaskun |last22=Bilbao Barandica |first23=Michal |last23=Šimečka |first24=Dita |last24=Charanzová |first25=Petras |last25=Auštrevičius |first26=Javier |last26=Hart |first27=Urmas |last27=Paet |first28=Hilde |last28=Vautmans |first29=Ramona |last29=Strugariu |first30=Karin |last30=Karlsbro |first31=Svenja |last31=Hahn |first32=Klemen |last32=Grošelj |first33=Olivier |last33=Chastel |first34=Nathalie |last34=Loiseau |first35=Bernard |last35=Guetta |first36=Karen |last36=Melchior |first37=Katalin |last37=Cseh |first38=Vlad |last38=Gheorghe}}</ref><ref name=":145">{{Cite web |last1=Von Joeden-Forgey and |first1=Elisa |last2=Victoria Massimino |first2=Irene |date=6 May 2023 |title=Country Visit |url=https://www.lemkininstitute.com/armeniaproject/country-visit |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention |language=en |quote=The Azerbaijani government erected this illegal checkpoint on April 23, 2023 to formalize the illegal blockade of Armenians in Artsakh...}}</ref> Azerbaijan and Russia have ignored calls from various countries and international organizations to restore freedom of movement through the corridor.<ref name=":163">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-04 |title=Statement by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on the obstruction of the Lachin Corridor |url=https://pace.coe.int/en/news/9025/statement-by-the-committee-on-legal-affairs-on-the-obstruction-of-the-lachin-corridor |website=Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement on Azerbaijan s Noncompliance with February 22nd ICJ Order to Unblock Lachin Corridor |url=https://www.lemkininstitute.com/statements-new-page/statement-on-azerbaijan-s-noncompliance-with-february-22nd-icj-order-to-unblock-lachin-corridor |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Lemkin Institute |language=en}}</ref>
-Azerbaijan has restricted access to Nagorno-Karabakh, prohibiting even Red Cross convoys from travelling through the Lachin Corridor to the region due to alleged product smuggling. This has made diplomatic attempts more difficult. The detention of a person going through a checkpoint to receive medical treatment in Armenia by Azerbaijani security personnel also caused a halt to medical evacuations for seriously ill patients. As the humanitarian crisis becomes grave, no supplies are permitted to flow via the corridor, leaving shelves empty and resulting in the deaths of two children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chapple |first=Amos |date=2023-07-18 |title=Deaths, Mass Protests As Nagorno-Karabakh Blockade Tightens |language=en |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/nagorno-karabakh-blockade-azerbaijan-armenia-critical/32508788.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |archive-date=2023-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830172055/https://www.rferl.org/a/nagorno-karabakh-blockade-azerbaijan-armenia-critical/32508788.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Queues for bread and no milk: Motherhood in Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/mothers-nagorno-karabakh-artsakh-armenia-azerbaijan-children/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=openDemocracy |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907230905/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/mothers-nagorno-karabakh-artsakh-armenia-azerbaijan-children/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Azerbaijan offered assistance, but the authorities of the area declined it, stating they would not take assistance from the nation that caused the problem.{{citation needed|reason=France24 citation in the next sentence only reports this being claimed by the Azerbaijani government}} Azerbaijan has ignored outside calls to lift its blockade.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-18 |title=Aid supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh resume after separatists reach accord with Azerbaijan |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20230918-aid-supplies-to-nagorno-karabakh-resume-after-separatists-reach-accord-with-azerbaijan |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919050246/https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20230918-aid-supplies-to-nagorno-karabakh-resume-after-separatists-reach-accord-with-azerbaijan |url-status=live }}</ref>{{failed verification|reason=Last source mentions Azerbaijan resuming aid supplies}}
 == Overview ==

v t e Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Background	Nagorno-Karabakh History Armenian–Azerbaijani war (1918–1920) Deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia Dissolution of the Soviet Union Karabakh movement Miatsum Armenians in Azerbaijan Armenians in Baku Azerbaijanis in Armenia Anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan Armenia–Azerbaijan relations
First war (1988–1994)	Çardaqlı clash Askeran clash Sumgait pogrom Gugark pogrom Zvartnots Airport clash Shusha and Stepanakert pogroms Kirovabad pogrom Il-76 crash near Leninakan (1988) Baku pogrom Bağanis Ayrum 1990 Tbilisi–Agdam bus bombing Operation Ring Voskepar massacre Battle of Togh 1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast Siege of Stepanakert Operation Dashalty 1992 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown Capture of Gushchular and Malibeyli Capture of Garadaghly Khojaly massacre Maraga massacre Capture of Shusha Capture of Artsvashen Operation Goranboy Mardakert and Martuni Offensives Operation Həsənqaya Battle of Lachin Operation Qazançı 1993 Azerbaijani coup d'état Battle of Kalbajar Battle of Aghdam 1993 Summer Offensives Operation Geghamasar Operation Horadiz Operation Kalbajar 1994 Baku Metro bombings 1994 Iranian Air Force C-130 shootdown 1994 Bagratashen bombing Refugees in Azerbaijan
Interwar clashes	2008 Mardakert clashes January 2009 Agdam military incident September 2009 Agdam military incident 2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes 2010 Mardakert clashes 2012 Armenian–Azerbaijani border clashes 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes 2014 Armenian Mil Mi-24 shootdown 2016 Odundağ clashes 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 2017 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Shelling of Alxanlı 2018 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes 2019 clash near Chinari July 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes Incidents Protests in Azerbaijan Reactions
Second war (2020)	Timeline Casualties International reactions Allegations of third-party involvement Madagiz offensive Aras Valley campaign Bombardments (Barda, Ganja, Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, Martuni, Stepanakert, Tartar) Battle of Hadrut Lachin offensive Battle of Shusha Russian Mil Mi-24 shootdown War crimes Treatment of Armenian POWs
Post-ceasefire events	Azerbaijan's construction in gained areas 2020–2021 Armenian protests Chaylaggala and Hin Tagher Border crisis September 2022 escalation Susuzluq Shusha Farukh 2022 Armenian protests Blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh 2023 Azerbaijani offensive Protests in Armenia Flight of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians Berkadzor fuel depot explosion
Main locations	Administrative divisions of the Republic of Artsakh Stepanakert Askeran Province Hadrut Province Kashatagh Province Martakert Province Martuni Province Shahumyan Province Shushi Province Armenian-occupied territories Aghdam District Fuzuli District Jabrayil District Kalbajar District Lachin District Lachin corridor Qubadli District Zangilan District
Political leaders	Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan Robert Kocharyan Serzh Sargsyan Nikol Pashinyan Republic of Artsakh Artur Mkrtchyan Robert Kocharyan Leonard Petrosyan Arkadi Ghukasyan Bako Sahakyan Arayik Harutyunyan Samvel Shahramanyan Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutallibov Abulfaz Elchibey Heydar Aliyev Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh Bayram Safarov Nizami Bahmanov Tural Ganjaliyev Russia Mikhail Gorbachev Boris Yeltsin Vladimir Putin Turkey Turgut Özal Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Military leaders	Armenia Vazgen Sargsyan Gurgen Dalibaltayan Norat Ter-Grigoryants Jirair Sefilian Tiran Khachatryan Seyran Ohanyan Republic of Artsakh Samvel Babayan Kristapor Ivanyan Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan Monte Melkonian Jalal Harutyunyan Mikael Arzumanyan Azerbaijan Isgandar Hamidov Rahim Gaziyev Surat Huseynov Valeh Barshadly Mais Barkhudarov Hikmat Mirzayev Hikmat Hasanov Russia Viktor Polyanichko Pavel Grachev Rustam Muradov Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Shamil Basayev Afghanistan Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Peace process	Baker rules Bishkek Protocol Tehran Communiqué Zheleznovodsk Communiqué OSCE Minsk Group Prague Process Madrid Principles 2020 ceasefire agreement 2020–2024 monitoring and peacekeeping Russia OSCE EU EUMCAP Oct–Dec 2022 EUPAT Dec 2022–Jan 2023 EUMA Feb 2023–present 2023 ceasefire agreement
International documents	Astrakhan Declaration Nagorno-Karabakh Declaration NATO Lisbon Summit Declaration OIC Resolution 10/11 OIC Resolution 10/37 PACE Resolution 1416 PACE Resolution 2085 UNGA Resolution 48/114 UNGA Resolution 60/285 UNGA Resolution 62/243 UNSC resolutions 822 853 874 884

v t e Armenia–Azerbaijan relations
History	Armenian–Tatar massacres of 1905–1907 March Days September Days Armenian–Azerbaijani war (1918–1920) Treaty of Kars Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict	Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian-occupied territories Karabakh movement Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast Tehran Communiqué First Nagorno-Karabakh War Prague Process Mardakert clashes 2008 2010 2010 clashes 2012 border clashes 2014 clashes 2016 conflict 2018 clashes July 2020 clashes Second Nagorno-Karabakh War Ceasefire agreement Border crisis (2021–present) September 2022 clashes Blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh 2023 Azerbaijani offensive Peacekeeping operations List of conflicts
Incidents	People declared personae non gratae in Azerbaijan Murder of Gurgen Margaryan Ramil Safarov Chiragov and Others v. Armenia Sargsyan v. Azerbaijan Armenian cemetery in Julfa 2014 Kalbajar incident Karen Petrosyan v. Azerbaijan Saribekyan and Balyan v. Azerbaijan
Related	Republic of Artsakh Border Cultural relations Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Baba-Hadji Mausoleum Deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia Rima Varzhapetyan-Feller Visa policy of Azerbaijan Western Azerbaijan Transport projects Crossroads of Peace Zangezur corridor Black Garden
Category:Armenia–Azerbaijan relations