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Several armistices have been signed since the fighting began in September, but were breached one by one, often soon after they took effect. However, this time around things appear to be radically different, with Armenia practically signing a peace treaty that stands a good chance of ending the conflict.
The agreement comes after the course of the war has clearly run counter to Armenia’s military efforts. On Sunday, Azerbaijani forces captured Shusha, the second city of Nagorno-Karabakh and a crucial strategic point in the war.
What the peace agreement provides
According to the provisions agreed by the three states, Azebaidjan remains in possession of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh conquered during the conflict. Furthermore, according to the BBC, Armenia has agreed to withdraw its forces from other adjacent territories in the coming weeks.
In a post on social media, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the deal was “incredibly painful for both me and our people.” He explained that he made the decision after “an in-depth analysis of the situation on the front and discussions with various industry experts”.
“It is not a victory, but there is no defeat until you consider yourself defeated,” the Armenian prime minister said.
The information was later confirmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who held a joint online conference. Putin announced that 1,960 Russian soldiers would take part in peacekeeping efforts in the region. The Kremlin leader also explained that the agreement provides for the exchange of prisoners of war.
The leader of the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, Arayik Hartyunyan, said he agreed to “end the war as soon as possible”.
In Yerevan, according to local media, the announcement of the peace agreement led to protests.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, explained briefly
The peace agreement comes after six weeks of fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia. On the morning of September 27, Armenia announced the declaration of martial law and the mobilization of the entire army. The Yerevan government said Azerbaijan launched a military operation in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, with the Baku government saying the attack came in response to the Armenian bombing. During the fighting, Azerbaijan enjoyed Turkey’s full support.
Russia has a military base in Armenia, and the two countries are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Moscow-led military alliance of several former Soviet states. The treaty establishes Russia’s obligation to provide military support if Armenia is attacked, but does not include Nagorno-Karabakh or other Azerbaijani regions around the Armenian-controlled enclave.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region is internationally recognized as part of the territory of Azerbaijan, but the majority of the population is of Armenian origin. In 1991, the region – with a population of around 150,000 – declared independence and self-governed, with the help of Armenia, as the Republic of Artah. The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan following the declaration of independence ended with an armistice in 1994, with Armenia gaining full control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other adjacent enclaves.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region was a source of disputes between Azeris and Armenians even before the formation of the Soviet Union. Tensions were kept in check as long as Armenia and Azerbaijan were part of the USSR, but after the collapse of communism and the end of the cold war, the conflict re-emerged.
It is not clear how many victims of the resumption of hostilities in September. Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said nearly 1,200 defense soldiers died in the fighting, as well as several civilians. Azerbaijan did not disclose the casualties suffered by the military, but said more than 80 civilians died in the fighting and many more were injured. Vladimir Putin said last month that nearly 5,000 people, civilians and military, have lost their lives in hostilities.
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