In a major turn of events, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has declared victory in the ongoing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, as separatist Armenian fighters have agreed to lay down their arms in response to a military operation. This unexpected surrender represents a significant triumph for President Aliyev and a dramatic shift in the struggle for control over the Armenian-majority Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over this mountainous region, which has seen two wars since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, has been marked by periods of violence and tenuous ceasefires. However, the recent developments are among the most consequential in years.
Azerbaijan initiated the military operation, prompting a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russian peacekeepers between Baku and the ethnic Armenian authorities in Karabakh. President Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan had successfully restored its sovereignty over Karabakh, claiming that most of the Armenian forces in the region had been neutralized, and the withdrawal of separatist troops had commenced.
Under the terms of the truce, the separatists agreed to dismantle their army entirely, while Armenia committed to withdrawing any remaining forces from the region. Azerbaijan’s defense ministry specified that all weapons and heavy armaments were to be surrendered under the supervision of Russia’s 2,000-strong peacekeeping force on the ground.
Talks regarding the reintegration of the breakaway territory into the rest of Azerbaijan are scheduled to take place soon in the city of Yevlakh.
Russian peacekeepers have reported that the ceasefire is holding, with no violations recorded as of Wednesday evening.
The history of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is marked by ethnic cleansing, human rights abuses, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. There are concerns of a potential refugee crisis as the Armenian population of Karabakh fears forced displacement.
International leaders have weighed in on the situation, with the President of the EU’s Council of Europe, Charles Michel, urging Baku to ensure the safety of the local population. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope for a peaceful resolution and revealed that Moscow had been in contact with all sides involved. However, the Kremlin insisted that the crisis was “Azerbaijan’s internal affair.”
The ceasefire announcement comes as Azerbaijani President Aliyev had previously stated that the military operation would continue until separatists laid down their weapons, despite international pressure to cease hostilities.
This development unfolds as Moscow, traditionally a key player in the region, is preoccupied with its conflict in Ukraine, leaving room for Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh to facilitate negotiations and oversee the ceasefire.
The situation has also garnered international attention, with Turkey supporting Azerbaijan’s actions and the EU and the United States mediating talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan to secure a lasting peace deal. The outcome of these developments will have far-reaching implications for the region’s stability and the future of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Sources By Agencies
