UCDP

General information

Part of Conflict: Azerbaijan: Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)

Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1991-12-28
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: Since the conflict over the status of Nagorno Karabakh is a long-disputed question, the first stated goal of incompatibility could be set at a variety of dates. However, since this part of the conflict (for the previous part, see Soviet Union/Russia) is a dispute between Azerbaijan and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, the date for the first stated goal of incompatibility is set after Azerbaijan's independence as it is difficult to have an incompatibility with a state that had not been existed before.

On 21 December 1991, Azerbaijan became independent when the Soviet Union dissolved, and the Commonwealth of Independent States emerged. On 28 December 1991, Nagorno-Karabakh held elections to a parliament after proclaiming itself a republic, and UCDP regards this as the first stated goal of incompatibility. It should be noted that Nagorno-Karabakh made clear statements about its political goals only some weeks before Azerbaijan became independent. For example, on 10 December 1991, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh approved the establishment of an independent state in a referendum boycotted by local Azerbaijanis.

Date of first use of armed force: 1991-12-29
Comment on date of first use of armed force: In independent Azerbaijan, the forces of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh reportedly clashed for the first time on 29 December 1991. Fierce fighting reportedly raged throughout the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and resulted in at least 15 deaths.
First Battle Related Death: 1991-12-29
Comment on First Battle Related Death: In independent Azerbaijan, the forces of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh reportedly clashed for the first time on 29 December 1991. On that day, fierce fighting was reported throughout the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1991-12-30
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: On 29/30 December 1991, Azerbaijani forces launched several attacks throughout Nagorno-Karabakh. 25 people were reportedly killed as a result of fighting that night.

Conflict issues

Conflict Goal Issues: The Republic of Artsakh, also known as the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, was a self-proclaimed independent governance structure that emerged following the fall of the Soviet Union. The Republic, which governed the contested area of Nagorno-Karabakh, pronounced itself independent around the same time as Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1991 but was not recognized as independent but rather under Azerbaijani rule by the international community which prompted the conflict with the government of Azerbaijan. The Republic is coded as a rebel group due to it being a non-state actor in conflict with a state. The Republic and its leadership was largely made up of ethnic Armenians, and it had close ties with the government of Armenia throughout its existence. During its first year of existence, the Republic of Artsakh stated four conflict goal issues, calling for Nagorno-Karabakh to be declared independent from the Azerbaijani government, for the cultural rights of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh to be respected and protected, and for relations to be improved with Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Republic also stated its intentions to establish law and order under the Republic’s governance.

As the conflict progressed, the issue of independence was stated frequently and continuously throughout the entire conflict. The issue of rule of law was also frequently stated, as were the intentions to protect Armenian cultural rights from the Azerbaijani government. The Republic also introduced several new issues. The Republic of Artsakh continuously stated its intentions to protect the civil-, cultural-, human-, and language rights of its population, particularly of its Armenian ethnic population. The Republic also emphasized calls for a democratic state to be implemented, which was largely interpreted from continuous statements relating to democracy as the Republic of Artsakh was a de facto, but not de jure, government with a democratic structure. Many other issues were also raised, particularly in 2006 and 2017, when the Republic released its two constitutions, although most of these were not explicitly stated in other years.

The main conflict goal issue of the Republic of Artsakh is undoubtedly the issue of independence from Azerbaijan. This issue was continuously raised throughout the conflict and heavily influenced the Republic’s other issues which indicates its centrality to the Republic.

Conflict Dynamics Issues: In 1991, the Republic of Artsakh stated four conflict dynamics issues, accusing the Azeri army of conducting operations into Nagorno-Karabakh with the aim of establishing terror and fear in the population, this was particularly targeted against Armenian civilians which prompted the Republic to call upon the USSR to protect the Armenian population. Apart from military misconduct and intentional targeting of civilians, this operation also resulted in large civilian casualties, which is why it is interpreted as accusing the military of atrocities. Finally, following the operation, the Republic of Artsakh also called upon the international community and the UN to “save the Armenian people of NKAO from physical extermination and grant them political asylum.”

As the conflict progressed, no further mentions were made of Azeri military misconduct and issues of atrocities and calls for political support were only restated once in 2013, 25 years after a massacre against Armenians in Sumgait. During this year, Azeri officer Ramil Safarov, who murdered an Armenian lieutenant on a UN mission, was extradited to Azerbaijan, pardoned, and celebrated as a national hero, which prompted the Republic to once again accuse the Azeri army of atrocities and abuses. The issue of collective targeting against ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh was also reemphasized toward the latter stages of the conflict, being raised in 2013 and 2014. Several new issues were also introduced, particularly toward the international community, calling for the withdrawal of Azeri forces from the region, for international monitoring missions to be established to protect the population, for sanctions against Azerbaijan, and for international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence under leadership of the Republic. On two occasions, the Republic also called for resettlement programs and for refugees to be returned to Nagorno-Karabakh.

The main conflict dynamics issue raised by the Republic of Artsakh was the issue of collective targeting of ethnic Armenians by the Azeri government and army. Whilst this issue, similarly to most other conflict dynamics issues, was only occasionally raised, it was the foundation of both many other issues and of the Republic’s existence as a whole.

Conflict Resolution Issues: Whilst no conflict resolution issues were stated in 1991, the Republic of Artsakh stated several issues as the conflict progressed. In 1994, the Republic called for a ceasefire to be negotiated and implemented, and whilst future calls for new ceasefires would not be made, calls for agreed upon ceasefires to be implemented and abided to were continuously stated. In 1997, the Republic called for negotiations with the Azeri government and conditioned negotiations on them being held “in the context of equal partnership” with Azerbaijan. Further issues were stated regarding the structure of negotiations and the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh presence in negotiations between the Armenian and Azeri state were frequently made, particularly emphasizing the importance of the Republic’s participation in resolving the conflict. Further calls for negotiations were only made in one other instance. Finally, in 2013, the Republic called for accountability and condemnation from the international community against the forces that perpetrated the Sumgait massacre.

The main conflict resolution issues raised by the Republic of Artsakh were the continuous calls for the Azeri military to stop its ceasefire violations and for the inclusion of the Republic in peace talks between the Azeri and Armenian government. These issues were continuously raised throughout the conflict and heavily emphasized, which indicates their centrality to the Republic.

Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Basic needs, Change a specific law, Change economic system, Change judicial system, Childrens rights, Citizenship reforms, Civil rights, Confederation/union, Constitutional issues, CPS: Democracy, Cultural rights, Decentralization, Foreign policy reform, Freedom of association, Freedom of expression, Freedom of movement, Gender rights, Hold elections, Human rights, Independence, Language rights, Law and order, Protection of cultural heritage, Protection of natural resources/the environment, Public services, Reform executive structure, Reform judicial system, Reform parliament, Religious rights, Restructure military forces, Rule of law

Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, Collective targeting: ethnic, DFI: Withdrawal of military intervention/foreign forces, IFI: International monitoring, IFI: Political support, IFI: Recognition, IFI: Sanctions, Military conduct, Return of refugees/IDPs

Conflict Resolution Issues: Accountability/prosecution/investigation, Call for ceasefire, Structure of negotiations, Call for implementation/abiding to ceasefire, Call for negotiations, Peace agreement implementation