The collapse of the self-proclaimed republic ushers in a new reality in the South Caucasus. For Armenia, the first concern is how to accommodate the needs of 100,000-plus refugees.
Violence has caused thousands to flee the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh amid anger over perceived lack of action from Washington or the international community.
In recent months, Azerbaijan has manufactured a green movement to choke off the contested region’s supplies via the Lachin corridor. The move reveals loopholes within the 2020 ceasefire agreement.
The on-again, off-again war between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been raging for 30 years and has been tilting back and forth. Armenia accused Azerbaijan a few days ago of opening fire on its positions on the border when EU experts went to the area to try to find peace.
Moscow’s preoccupation with the war in Ukraine has opened up an opportunity for Azerbaijan to put military pressure on Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Allegations that World Bank officials manipulated country rankings in its much-used ease of doing business index highlight a deeper problem with these types of rankings.
Brian Grodsky, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Each side in the bloody Nagorno-Karabakh conflict accuses the other of war crimes. Such allegations attract foreign attention and possibly intervention, but rarely lead to a peaceful solution.