Unrecognised republic Nagorno-Karabakh officially ceases to exist
When you look at the endless columns of refugees in the Lachin corridor, at the children sleeping on the street in Goris, at the silent old men with withered faces, you cannot escape the analogies. The refugees of every conflict are similar in some way.
And they sometimes even return, if they have somewhere to go. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh now lack even that ghostly hope. On Thursday, the head of this unrecognised state actually abolished it, issuing a decree that Karabakh will cease to exist until 1 January 2024. And what we are witnessing today is not an evacuation – an exodus. Out of 120 thousand residents of Karabakh, 65 thousand have already left for Armenia. And the queue is not ending. It is unlikely that there will be many people willing to stay. The blood is too fresh, the mutual grievances between Armenians and Azerbaijanis too strong, the fear too palpable.
Refugees have lost the phantom hope to return to their native home/Photo: REUTERS
This is the end of the history of Nagorno-Karabakh, which ended in triumph for some and national tragedy for others. Just like 30 years ago, when this history began. Only the winners and the defeated have changed their places. Back then, in 1994, having conquered Karabakh in two and a half years, Armenia, resting on its laurels of triumph, did not make any steps not only to reunite with this land, but even to recognise its independence. While Azerbaijan has been methodically preparing for revenge by training and arming itself. In 2020, it conducted its first operation, reaching the ancient capital of Karabakh, Shusha, and hovering over the modern one, Stepanakert. And he took a pause – he had to digest what he had taken and restore military resources.
Just yesterday you had your own life, work, plans, measured life, which suddenly collapses overnight/Photo: REUTERS
The third lightning-fast and crushing war of this autumn was the result of Yerevan’s inaction and inaction, which itself has recently officially recognised Azerbaijan within the 1991 borders – that is, together with Karabakh. The Armenian authorities have not lifted a finger to help their brothers in the unrecognised republic, who, judging by Baku’s statistics, still put up one last fight. Azerbaijan lost 192 people killed during the day. And this is 3 times more than the average daily losses in the previous conflict. But the refugees in the Lachin corridor hardly comfort themselves with figures.
One looks at the endless columns of refugees in the Lachin corridor and cannot escape the analogies/Photo: REUTERS
In the last war they left villages, burning the houses they lived in and taking their exhumed relatives in coffins. In the current one, it seems, there is no longer enough moral strength for this.
Refugees sometimes return, if they have somewhere to go. The residents of Artsakh do not have even this phantom hope/Photo: REUTERS
Source: KP.RU
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