The separatist leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh has declared its intention to disband by the beginning of next year, marking the end of the unrecognized republic.
The leader of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Samvel Shahramanyan, made it official that all governmental bodies will dissolve by 1 January 2024, according to a statement from the local authorities.
Following a rapid offensive by Azerbaijan to regain full sovereignty over the territory, over half of the region’s inhabitants have sought refuge in Armenia, a move described as “ethnic cleansing”.
The announcement further stipulated that residents should acquaint themselves with the terms of rejoining Azerbaijan and individually decide if they wish to remain or depart.
Azerbaijan’s military actions prompted local leaders to consider surrendering arms and begin discussions regarding Nagorno-Karabakh’s reintegration into Azerbaijan. Having asserted its independence in 1991, the region was governed by ethnic Armenian separatists for nearly three decades.
Recent reports indicate that over 68,000 individuals from Nagorno-Karabakh have relocated to Armenia, a significant portion of the ethnic Armenian population residing in the region prior to the latest hostilities.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously urged Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to refrain from further hostilities in the region, provide assurances to its residents, and allow access to an international observer mission.
“I think we’re going to see the vast majority of people in Karabakh leaving for Armenia,” said Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Europe thinktank.
“They are being told to integrate into Azerbaijan, a country that they’ve never been part of, and most of them don’t even speak the language and are being told to dismantle their local institutions. That’s an offer that most people in Karabakh will not accept.”
