Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

Why in news?

The European Union lawmakers has urged the bloc to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan for carrying ethnic cleansing against Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Where is Nagorno-Karabakh located ?

• Location- Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked, mountainous and forested region falling within the boundaries of Azerbaijan.
• It is located in the South Caucasus region, which straddles the border between Eastern Europe and western Asia.
  • It is roughly made up of modern-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
• Predominant population-Nagorno-Karabakh, called Artsakh in Armenian, hosts a predominantly ethnic Armenian population (1.2 Lakh) having close cultural, social, and historical ties with Armenia.
• The conclave is connected to Armenia through the 5-km Lachin Corridor.
• Religion- The Armenians are Christians, while Azeris are Muslims.
• Places - The capital of Nagorno-Karabakh is Stepanakert, with Susha being another major city in the region.

What is the conflict about?

• The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh is called one of the “frozen conflicts” of the world.
• 1921 - When Czarist Russia gave way to the Soviet Union in 1921, Nagorno-Karabakh was part of the Azerbaijan SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic).
• 1988 - Nagorno-Karabakh legislature passed a resolution declaring its intention to join Armenia, despite being geographically located within Azerbaijan.
• 1991- With the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia and Azerbaijan achieved statehood while Nagorno-Karabakh officially declared independence.
• 1993 - War broke between two countries, Armenia had captured Nagorno-Karabakh region and it additionally occupied 20% of the Azerbaijan’s geographical area.
• 1994 - Bishkek protocol (a ceasefire) was brokered by Russia making Nagorno-Karabakh de facto independent with a self-proclaimed government in Stepanakert, but still it relied on Armenia.
• 2020 - Both countries went to war again and Azerbaijan managed to seize control of the territory around Nagorno-Karabakh.
• 2022- The Lachin Corridor was blockaded by Azerbaijan, causing severe shortages of essential goods including food, fuel and water in Nagorno-Karabakh.
• After an agreement to reopen the Lachin Corridor for aid deliveries sparked hopes of easing the crisis, Azerbaijan launched an anti-terrorist offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh and claimed to have regained full control over the region.
• 2023 - Almost all of the 1,20,000 ethnic Armenian population has fled the breakaway region since Azerbaijan seized it back in a lightning offensive.

What is India’s stand on the conflict?

• Diplomacy- Post 2020 conflict, India believes that any lasting resolution of the conflict can only be achieved peacefully through diplomatic negotiations.
• Peaceful resolution- India supports the OSCE Minsk Group’s continued efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

• 2023 conflict- India encouraged the parties to move forward on ensuring long-term peace and security in the region through dialogue and diplomacy.

• Strategic ties- The geographical location of the countries make the region a viable corridor for connecting with Russia and Europe through Central Asia and Iran.
• Armenia and Azerbaijan are members of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which India is keen to develop.
  • India supports Armenia’s proposal to include Iran’s Chabahar port in INSTC.
• The tensions in the region directly impact India’s plans to bypass Pakistan as the gateway to Europe and Russia.

What about the global response?

• Former International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor warned that there was a reasonable basis to believe Azerbaijan was committing a genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh region using starvation as “invisible genocide weapon”.
• The European Parliament approved a resolution saying it considers that the current situation amounts to ethnic cleansing and strongly condemns threats and violence committed by Azerbaijan troops.
• The lawmakers called on EU’s 27 member states to adopt targeted sanctions against individuals in the Azerbaijani government over the assault and alleged human right violations in Nagorno-Karabakh.

References

1. Indian Express-Nagorno-Karabakh conflict history
2. The Hindu- EU Parliament decries ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh