SUMMARY
The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh or Nagorno-Karabagh Republic (NKR) is also called Republic of Mountain-Karabakh or Artsakh republic. During the Soviet-era it was an autonomous region within the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic. Being mainly populated by ethnic Armenians, it has strong ties to neighbouring Armenia.
In the late 1980s, nationalist sentiments among ethnic Armenians and Azeri grew. Nagorno-Karabakh sought to be united with neighbouring Armenia, which also was part of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan wanted to keep control over Nagorno-Karabakh and in 1990, the frictions between Armenians and Azeri developed into an intrastate armed conflict. Soviet troops together with local Azeri forces fought against the self-proclaimed “Republic of Armenia” comprising also militias of Nagorno-Karabakh.
When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the status of the parties to this conflict changed. Armenia and Azerbaijan became independent. Likewise, the “Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh” declared itself an independent state, but failed to gain international recognition. Thus, the armed conflict continued between newly independent Azerbaijan and the self-proclaimed “ Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh”. While it was clear that the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh still had strong links to Armenia and received military support, the latter declared that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh was an internal matter of Azerbaijan.
From 1991 to mid-1992, the chairman of the parliament, Artur Mkrtchayan, led the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. Georgy Petrosian succeeded him as acting chairman of the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament until mid-1993. Under Robert Kocharyan, Nagorno-Karabakh President from 1994 to 1997, a ceasefire agreement terminated large-scale violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Kocharyan later became president of Armenia. His successors as Presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh were Leonard Petrosyan (1997), Arkadi Ghukasyan (1997-2007) and Bako Sahakyan (2007- ).
During the Soviet-era, Nagorno-Karabakh had several militias. They became the backbone of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army formed in 1992. The Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army developed into a highly trained and equipped force. Reportedly, main Armenia citizens have served in the Nagorno-Karabakh forces, as conscripts or contracted soldiers.
The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh has been involved in the intrastate and one-sided categories of UCDP organised violence.
