Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh Remain Under Siege

Armenians in the Republic of Artsakh continue to feel the militant aggression of Azerbaijan. Over the weekend, five more men in the Nagorno-Karabakh region lost their lives in a skirmish between the two sides. The Armenians here have been under blockade for nearly 3 months, awaiting relief from negotiation efforts—with none forthcoming—as emboldened Azerbaijani threaten to take “more drastic steps.” 

The latest clash happened as the Azerbaijani army opened fire and killed three Armenian officials travelling in a convoy. The Armenians returned fire and killed two Azerbaijani soldiers. Azerbaijan claims the Armenians were trafficking weapons, while Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of planned provocation. 

Negotiations in this region are at an impasse, with the Armenian enclave requesting humanitarian assistance and Azerbaijan demanding integration of the Armenians into Azerbaijan. The Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh had been negotiating for restoration of electricity, fuel, and highway access to allow for food and medical supplies—a peaceful resolution to the humanitarian crisis caused by the blockade of the Lachin corridor. Armenian president of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, informed his security council on Monday, March 6th, that negotiation efforts had failed.

Threats against Armenians have escalated and international leaders are raising concerns. Russia, a key mediator in the conflict, has expressed “serious concern” over the recent clashes and the potential for further violence. According to Reuters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on both sides to exercise restraint and work towards a peaceful solution.

EU representative to the South Caucasus, Toivo Klaar, tweeted “[t]he deadly incident today underscores the urgency of pushing forward with negotiations to achieve stability & a fair peace.” However, a frustrating lack of substantive action prompted former government minister Artak Beglaryan, an Armenian from this region, to accuse Klaar of being either corrupt or incompetent.

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains tense.