In the wake of Azerbaijan’s swift military offensive, marking their reclamation of Nagorno-Karabakh, the first wave of refugees has now found shelter in Armenia. The Armenian government, as reported by the state news outlet Armenpress, announced that approximately 4,850 individuals had crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh by noon on Monday.
Azerbaijan’s recent military incursion, though brief, was marked by significant bloodshed, resulting in the tragic loss of over 200 lives and countless injuries. The conflict reached an uneasy halt through a Russia-brokered ceasefire, in which Karabakh officials reluctantly agreed to dissolve their armed forces. President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan boldly proclaimed the restoration of Baku’s control over the contested enclave, asserting their sovereignty with resolute determination.
Amidst this geopolitical maneuvering, Azerbaijan has put forth a directive that ethnic Armenians who opt to remain in Nagorno-Karabakh must undergo a formal process to attain Azerbaijani citizenship.
In response to this directive, the Karabakh presidency conveyed to Reuters that a significant majority of the enclave’s 120,000-strong Armenian population was unwilling to live under Azerbaijani governance. Fears of persecution and ethnic cleansing have compelled many to seek refuge in Armenia, marking a poignant chapter in the ongoing turmoil of this region.
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