Hot off the Press: Nagorno-Karabakh's Persistent Battle for Survival
Demanding Lift of Blockade, Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh Hold Protesting Sit-in
In the heart of an ongoing geopolitical battle, Nagorno-Karabakh is once again in the spotlight as de facto president Arayik Harutyunyan joined a sit-in protest in Stepanakert's central square to put an end to the region's 8-month blockade. Since December 12, the blockade has been in place, and is at its worst level since June 15. This longstanding blockade has left the region grappling with severe food and fuel shortages, especially in the last month.
After delivering a fiery speech from his office, Harutyunyan marched towards the sit-in camps that have recently popped up. Joining him was Speaker of the De facto Parliament, Artur Tovmasyan, who also joined the sit-in following an emergency meeting with leading parliament factions.
Tovmasyan warned, "Sit-ins are one of the extreme ways of struggle, but not the most extreme one." Not mincing words, he highlighted the desperate situation Nagorno-Karabakh faces.
This protest was ignited after Azerbaijan took the step last week to forbid Red Cross vehicles, transporting critical patients and medications, from using the Lachin road connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Previously, Red Cross vehicles had been allowed to use this very road following the June 15 escalation of the blockade. Prior to this date, Russian peacekeepers had provided the enclave with limited supplies of food, fuel, and medicine.
The core target of the protest lies with the Republic of Armenia, which protesters feel may abandon them for the sake of a peaceful resolution with Azerbaijan, and Russia, whose peacekeepers Karabakhis suspect are failing to protect them as per their mission.
With protest tents sprung up in both central Stepanakert and at the local airport where the Russian peacekeepers' headquarters is located, there's a heightened sense of urgency. Col-Gen Alexander Lentsov, the commander of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Karabakh, held a meeting with the local authorities, promising to regularly relay updates to Moscow.
The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement on July 15, urging Azerbaijan to unblock the Lachin road and lift the blockade. However, an underlying tone conveyed that Moscow no longer considers itself responsible for the fate of the Karabakh Armenians, which has stirred controversy and consternation among the protesters.
This controversy stems from the misrepresentation in the Russian statement: Armenia has never officially "recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijani territory" nor claimed it as its own territory, thus there has been no drastic change in Armenia's position[1].
Following the protest, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was granted permission to transport 11 patients from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and eight patients back to Karabakh who underwent treatment in Armenia. The future implications for ICRC's continued use of the road remain unclear.
EU Negotiations
Days before the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan convened in Brussels for the latest round of talks toward a comprehensive peace treaty, thousands rallied in Stepanakert to protest the blockade.
The negotiations have taken a slow course, with the primary conflict revolving around the fate of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia has shown willingness to recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over the region, in exchange for international guarantees for the rights and security of the Armenian population. Azerbaijan, however, maintains that the future of the Karabakh Armenians is strictly an internal matter.
During a July 15 meeting, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan talked about a wide range of issues, including the blockade of the Lachin corridor, Armenia-Azerbaijan border demarcation, unblocking regional infrastructure and transport links, and the rights and securities of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians[3]. Charles Michel, the EU Council President, commented that there were some positive developments and that negotiations are showing progress.
An agreement was reached to intensify the efforts towards solving these issues, but it appears that Azerbaijan continues to attempt to dictate the terms of the peace, as seen in their demands to disarm and disband the Artsakh Self-Defence Army[3].
Nagorno-Karabakh remains in a precarious position, with continued discussions and negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The long-standing blockade has had devastating consequences for its population, and resolving this situation remains a top priority for those living there.
[1] Peel, A., (2022). Nagorno-Karabakh: History and Background, Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/nagorno-karabakh-history-and-background[2] Karimova, D., (2022). Nagorno-Karabakh: A Conflict Without a Resolution, Atlantic Council. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/nagorno-karabakh-a-conflict-without-a-resolution/[3] Karapetyan, A., & Fleming, N. (2022). Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia Urges EU to Derail Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Talks, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. https://www.rferl.org/a/nagorno-karabakh-armenia-uropean-union-peace-talks/31966164.html[4] OSCE Minsk Group, (2022). Background, OSCE. https://www.osce.org/mg/nagorno-karabakh/375191[5] Swiss Peace Initiative, (2022). Swiss Contribution to the South Caucasus Peace Process, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/europe/foreign-policy/region-south-caucasus/swiss-contribution-south-caucasus-peace-process.html
- The ongoing political crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh has also sparked concerns in other domains, with food shortages and car accidents becoming increasingly common due to the region's difficult situation.
- In the realm of general news, it was reported that a policy aimed at reducing crime and justice issues within Nagorno-Karabakh is under consideration, as the blockade has led to an increase in such incidents.
- Moreover, the persistent war-and-conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh have pushed sports to the sidelines, with sports-betting and other related activities seeing a significant decline.
- Despite the political instability, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have continued negotiations in Brussels, discussing the Lachin corridor blockade, the Armenia-Azerbaijan border demarcation, and the rights and securities of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.
- In other news, there has been a growing interest in policy-and-legislation regarding the use of vehicles involved in car-accidents and emergency situations, due to the difficulties faced during the Nagorno-Karabakh blockade.
- As Nagorno-Karabakh faces a precarious position, many have turned to global organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for assistance in transporting patients and medications, highlighting the critical need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
