Following a months-long blockade that escalated into violent attacks by Azerbaijani forces, the government of the predominantly ethnically Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh announced it would disband, effective immediately.
“The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ceases to exist,” stated the separatist republic, which is referred to as Artsakh in Armenian, via its official information channel on Telegram. The announcement noted that the region’s president, Samvel Shakhramanyan, had signed a decree stipulating the dissolution of all state organizations under his government by January 1, 2024. The population of the region will have the right to decide independently whether they wish to remain in the region under Azerbaijani rule.
According to the statement, the dissolution decision was made in response to the complex military-political situation that has arisen, prioritizing the physical safety and vital interests of the people of Artsakh. Crucially, this decision takes into account an agreement reached through Russian mediation with representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The agreement guarantees the free, voluntary, and unimpeded passage of Nagorno-Karabakh residents, including disarmed servicemen, with their property through the Lachin corridor.
The dissolution announcement comes in the wake of a devastating humanitarian crisis that has gripped the region for months. It marks the climax of a protracted territorial dispute. Despite being located within Azerbaijan’s current borders, the region’s population is reportedly 95% Armenian according to the CFR Global Conflict Tracker. The conflict can be traced back to 1988 when the people of Nagorno-Karabakh demanded secession from Azerbaijan and sought integration with Armenia.
For several months, the region’s residents have been unable to access essential supplies like food and medicine. This blockade was called out as genocide by former International Criminal Court prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo. The region has long relied on Armenia for access to food, medication and other basic supplies via the Lachin Corridor. However, this crucial supply route was blocked in December.
In a UN hearing last month, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Miroyan stated that the Azerbaijani blockade had cut off some 400 tons of essential daily goods from the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. He accused Baku of using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. Azerbaijani diplomat Yashar Aliyev dismissed these claims as baseless during the hearing.
Various international organizations and tribunals have called on Azerbaijan to reopen the Lachin Corridor. In a notable ruling in February, the International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to “take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.”