This dyad belongs to the conflict Russia (Soviet Union): Nagorno-Karabakh

Summary of conflict Russia (Soviet Union): Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh is a region in Azerbaijan populated mainly by Armenians. The territorial status of the enclave is a long disputed question. Under the reformist leadership of the Soviet Union, in 1989, the self-proclaimed sovereign Republic of Armenia laid claim to the region. The Soviet central government intervened on the side of Soviet Azerbaijan to preserve the status quo. Soviet troops together with local Azeri forces fought Armenians until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991.

As the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991 and one of the conflict parties as a result "disappeared" the conflict ended in the constellation it was known up to that point. However, the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakhs future status remained unsolved and gave rise to an armed conflict within newly independent Azerbaijan (see Azerbaijan (Nagorno-Karabakh)).

Conflict Description

Nagorno-Karabakh is a region in Azerbaijan populated mainly by Armenians. The territorial status of Nagorno-Karabakh is a long disputed question, which re-emerged during the 1980s under the reformist leadership of the Soviet Union. At the beginning of the 20th century Nagorno-Karabakh was a part of Armenia, but in the 1920s it was decided that the area was to belong to Azerbaijan. After the passing of a resolution by the regional council in Nagorno-Karabakh on 20 February 1988, in which a transfer to Armenia was demanded, tensions increased in the area. Following this Moscow imposed a direct rule over the territory, but as soon as this was ended in November 1989 Armenia declared the enclave to be part of a unified Armenian republic.

Armenia fought with the USSR over Nagorno-Karabakh for two years. During this period negotiations were initiated at a few occasions, both in Latvia and in Georgia. After separate meetings with the leaderships of Armenia and Azerbaijan, followed by a meeting where their presidents and the leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh were brought together a ceasefire agreement was reached in September 1991. The agreement provided for the withdrawal and disarmament of all armed groups, with the exception of the Soviet troops stationed in the area, by the end of 1991. It was also decided on a plan for future negotiations between the parties and that a local self-government was to be restored in Nagorno-Karabakh by January 1992. However, low intensity conflict continued through out the year.

As the Soviet Union was dissolved and one of the conflict parties as a result "disappeared" the conflict ended in the constellation it was known up to that point. However, the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakhs future status remained unsolved and became more infected than ever inside the newly independent Azerbaijan as Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed itself republic after parliamentary elections only days later. The difference before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union was merely that instead of Armenia fighting Moscow over the rightful belonging of the enclave, the republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, although with the help from Armenia, now fought the very state it was a part of, Azerbaijan, to win independence. To read more about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict please see Azerbaijan (Nagorno-Karabakh).