Azerbaijan Regains Authority Over Three Karabakh Communities
The Lachin Corridor Saga:
The battleground for geopolitical power shifts, the Lachin Corridor stands tall amidst controversy. Now, it's more than just a road—it's a significant passageway, connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh.
In the recent whirlwind of events, Azerbaijan has gained control over three additional territories along this strategic route. However, the much-anticipated "Lachin corridor" has experienced a hold-up in its opening.
Initially planned to function by August 25, the new road was to replace the current route. But both sides—Azerbaijan and de facto Karabakh authorities—announced delays. The issued cause? A minor segment of under five kilometers that will be completed shortly.
Chair of Azerbaijan's State Agency of Automobile Roads, Saleh Mammadov, revealed that the 10-kilometer stretch on Armenia's side of the border remains incomplete. Azerbaijan, he said, constructed a connecting section of 4.8 kilometers, and the rest is anticipated to be ready in approximately a week.
The setting is slightly chaotic, with Azerbaijani troops rumbling into Lachin, while Russian peacekeepers continue the dismantling of their checkpoints along the road. Yet, Azerbaijani inhabitants have yet to take full control over traffic flow.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's state energy company declared that workers have accessed Lachin, along with the villages of Zabukh and Sus, to restore power infrastructure.
The onset of the handover of these three communities was emotional and confusing for the over 400 Armenian residents who lived there. Majority were from Armenia, with a few from Armenian communities in Syria and Lebanon. The territory, captured in the first war between the two sides in the '90s, soon became a place of resettlement.
Among these communities, Zabukh gained prominence as a symbol of resilience after the 2020 war. Despite vocal resistance to evacuation orders, residents departed the area as the takeover seemed imminent. President Ilham Aliyev labeled the remaining Lachin residents as illegal settlers, triggering exodus.
Interestingly, the Lachin corridor rumors of a delayed road project might have arisen due to a misunderstanding. In reality, the focus has revolved around the corridor's humanitarian significance rather than the construction of a new road. Ongoing efforts are being made to address the corridor's condition and access.
As the Lachin corridor stands amidst this drama, its future remains uncertain, ripe with geopolitical implications and humanitarian concerns. Stay tuned for more updates from this charged region.
The Lachin Corridor's humanitarian significance has taken center stage in the general news, with discussions surrounding its delayed opening causing confusion. In the realm of politics and war-and-conflicts, the corridor's future is uncertain, holding significant implications for travel and connections between Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and beyond.
