Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: Post-Soviet Struggle
Conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan: How did it start and what does it mean?
On December 26, 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic dissolved under Mikhail Gorbachev. With the collapse of a world superpower, various new states with their new individual identities were created. Territorial, cultural, and religious struggles between those new states have led to deadly conflicts, and have affected the political structure in modern Central Asia. In late September, two former soviet nations, Armenia and Azerbaijan, resumed war on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Despite urges from many foreign leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron to make peace, effective ceasefires have not been taking place, as both sides made minimal efforts to do so.
- Historical Factors
Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, is a mountainous territory that is self-governed as a republic. Historically, it has been a part of Armenia with its big ethnic Armenian group. The area has been conquered many times, and its Armenian population in 1988 demanded the Soviet government to transfer the area back to Soviet Armenia. Yet, after the soviet union collapsed, Artsakh was claimed by its eastern neighbor, Azerbaijan, and is internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory. Armenian separatists in the region aimed to regain independence and were always supported by the Armenian government. This has weakened the relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the conflict has escalated to war since the 1990s. George Fox University states: “Since there were no true ethnic administrative boundaries, the new states became embroiled in a series of border conflicts, the most protracted and crucial of which centered on Mountainous Karabakh.” (George Fox University) Ethnic struggles are considered as one of the main causes of this conflict by many historians and politicians. Discriminations against Armenians in Azerbaijan societies further escalated the conflict, and many Armenians even claim Azerbaijan’s rule over Armenian ethnics groups is a continuation of the controversial “Armenian genocide”, which is recognized by the Armenians and many other countries conducted by the Turkish Muslims as a century ago.
- Religious Difference
Although both Armenia and Azerbaijan are secular countries, 97% of the Armenians are Christian, while 99% of Azerbaijani are Shia Muslims. Muslims and Christians are two historically opposing religions that have fought each other for countless decades. This huge religious difference made it even harder for Armenia and Azerbaijan to make peace, as the two populations have already formed hatred towards each other. The religious difference can be seen clearly throughout international responses to this issue. Even though Turkey, a Muslim nation that has been denying the Armenian genocide, has publicly denied their involvement in the war, there are claims showing their support for Azerbaijan, according to an article published by the Washington Post on October 14th:
“Relatives of two fighters — Najjar and his nephew — said in interviews that monthly salaries were promised by the Turkish-supported militias and that the fighters flew to Azerbaijan from southern Turkey.”
On October 13th, the Catholic News Agency published an article that is titled “Religion central to Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict”. The article also quotes Mark Movesian, a Center for Law and Religion professor from St. John’s University, who stated: “I don’t see how Christians, wherever they are, wouldn’t see this as relevant to them”.
- Ceasefire Attempts
In early October, a ceasefire brokered by France, Russia, and the United States failed in less than a day, with Azerbaijan accusing Armenia of bombing the region, while Armenians deny this. Another ceasefire brokered by Russia after the first one has not only ended in failure but heated up the conflict with both sides accusing the other of breaking the peace. Fears about the Turkish-backed Syrian forces fighting for Azerbaijan, the Armenian government turned to Russia for military support on October 31st, according to AP news.
By October 23rd, the Armenian authority stated that more than half of the Artsakh citizens, which is around 90,000 people, were forced to displace due to the conflict this year. Many casualties have been reported from both sides. On November 2nd, the United Nations Human Rights Council has warned the possibility of war crimes from the conflict, as UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet states: “International humanitarian law cannot be clearer. Attacks carried out in violation of the principle of distinction or the principle of proportionality may amount to war crimes, and the parties to the conflict are obliged to effectively, promptly, thoroughly, and impartially investigate such violations and to prosecute those alleged to have committed them.” The struggle between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been a big threat to the peace in Middle-eastern and central Asian regions for 3 decades, and the future of the population in Artsakh remains unknown, as there is no sign of peace and settlement on this issue yet.