Ethnic Armenians flee Karabakh after breakaway region’s defeat

Thousands of ethnic Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday after their separatist state was defeated by Azerbaijan. They queued up for fuel and crowded the road to Armenia. The 120,000 Armenians who call Karabakh home expressed their desire to leave because they feared persecution and ethnic cleansing under Azerbaijani rule. In the Karabakh capital, people loaded their belongings onto buses and trucks as they departed for Armenia. Refugees who reached Armenia believed that the history of their breakaway state was over and that they would not be returning. The Armenian government prepared for the arrival of thousands of refugees, with over 2,900 people already crossing into Armenia. The ethnic Armenian leadership stated that they would remain in place until all those who wanted to leave were able to do so. They also urged residents to allow the evacuation of the injured before crowding the roads. Free fuel would be provided for those wishing to leave the territory. The victory of Azerbaijan in Karabakh has significant implications for the South Caucasus region, where various countries are vying for influence. Armenia had relied on a security partnership with Russia, while Azerbaijan grew close to Turkey. The United States expressed deep concern over Azerbaijan’s military operation. The Armenians of Karabakh felt abandoned by Russia, the West, and Armenia itself. They spoke of the end of an era for Karabakh Armenians. Reports from ethnic Armenians fleeing Karabakh supported claims of Azerbaijan’s armed forces pummeling villages. Azerbaijan plans to fully integrate Karabakh and turn it into a “paradise.” Azerbaijan’s victory marks a reversal of the country’s previous defeat during the breakup of the Soviet Union. Nagorno-Karabakh has a complex history, having been under the control of various powers over the centuries. The First Karabakh War in 1988-1994 resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of over a million people. Azerbaijan regained territory in and around Nagorno-Karabakh in the 2020 war. Turkish President Erdogan, who supported Azerbaijan in the 2020 conflict, expressed his support for Azerbaijan’s latest military operation but denied any direct involvement. Armenia reported casualties from the Azeri operation and blamed Russia for failing to support them. Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan warned of unidentified forces seeking to overthrow him and accused Russian media of engaging in an information war against him.