Armenia Conflict

Article Written by Ananya nayar, Website edited by Misaki Tomiyama

Armenia is a small nation, former Soviet Republic in Asia-Europe. It borders Iran and Turkey and is a landlocked country.

Image credits to Google Maps

Earlier this year, Armenia broke out in armed fighting against Azerbaijan, another former Soviet Republic nation (militarily supported by Turkey). Azerbaijan is a country in Western Asia- Europe. It is surrounded by the Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains, bordered by Russia, Georgia to the North, Iran to the South and Armenia. The clashes broke out after tension between the two nations that has been there for a few decades, yet this is the most harsh encounter since the early 1990’s.

In 1994, Armenia and Azerbaijan were at war for the Nagorno-Karabakh land, the war ended without an Armistice or a peace treaty, Azerbaijan took the Karabakh land as their own, although a majority of the population was Armenian. Before the 1990’s war, when the Soviet Union was falling apart, the Armenian parliament had voted if they wanted Nagorno-Karabakh to be part of Armenia or Azerbaijan, they voted Armenia, and the fighting broke out.

On the 27th September 2020, Azerbaijan reported a missile from Armenia struck homes, killing 7 people. Azerbaijan announced they only attacked in response to the Armenian shelling. The conflict has been getting worldwide attention because rivals Turkey and Russia are playing a role too, Russia has been giving support to Armenia to help take land, and Turkey has been providing military support to Azerbaijan since they have strong relations. Russia and Turkey have had problems of their own, they have been on opposing sides of the Syrian civil war and the Libyan civil war.

Earlier this week on Tuesday the 10th of November, Armenia signed a peace treaty with Azerbaijan stating they would end the conflict for Nagorno-Karabakh land after 6 weeks of fighting. The Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called the truce "incredibly painful both for me and both for our people".

It was agreed that Armenia shall be allowed to keep whatever Karabakh land they conquered during the dispute, but they will also give up other pieces of land over the next few weeks.

Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin stated that almost 2,000 Russian Soldiers will patrol the border peacefully. Pashinyan announced that this conclusion was based on "deep analyses of the combat situation and in discussion with best experts of the field".

The Armenian leader of Nagorno-Karabakh, Arayak Harutyunyan declared that he agreed that the war must end as soon as possible.

During the battle, Armenia lost its second biggest town Shusha.

"This is not a victory but there is no defeat until you consider yourself defeated," the Armenian Prime Minister said.