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What type of conflict is Nagorno-Karabakh?
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an ethnic and territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, inhabited mostly by ethnic Armenians, and seven surrounding districts, inhabited mostly by Azerbaijanis until their evacuation in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
How many people have died from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
Now Azerbaijan says 2,783 of its forces died in the Nagorno-Karabakh war and another 100 are missing in action. It brings to over 5,000 the number of soldiers confirmed to have died. At least 143 civilians were also killed on both sides and tens of thousands more were displaced by the fighting.
What is the meaning of Nagorno-Karabakh?
Karabakh is the Russian rendering of an Azeri word meaning ‘black garden’, while Nagorno is a Russian root meaning “mountainous”. The ethnic Armenians prefer to call the region Artsakh, an ancient Armenian name for the area.
Why is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict escalating?
The risk of military conflict is escalating in Nagorno-Karabakh, the border region claimed by both Armenia and Azerbaijan, due to the failure of mediation efforts, increased militarization, and frequent cease-fire violations. In late September 2020, heavy fighting broke out along the border—the most serious escalation since 2016.
When did Nagorno-Karabakh become part of Armenia?
In 1988, the Nagorno-Karabakh legislature passed a resolution to join Armenia despite the region’s legal location within Azerbaijan’s borders. As the Soviet Union was dissolving in 1991, the autonomous region officially declared independence.
What are the risks of the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict?
Because Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian military forces are positioned close to each other and have little to no communication, there is a high risk that inadvertent military action could lead to an escalation of the conflict. The two sides also have domestic political interests that could cause their respective leaders to launch an attack.