2023 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement
Type | Armistice |
---|---|
Context | 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh |
Signed | 20 September 2023 |
Effective | 21 September 2023 |
Mediators | Russian peacekeeping forces |
On 20 September 2023 a ceasefire agreement ending the Azerbaijani military offensive against the self-proclaimed ethnic Armenian Republic of Artsakh in Nagorno-Karabakh was reached. The agreement was brokered by the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in the region since the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. Under the terms of the agreement, the Artsakh Defence Army was disbanded. The Russian peacekeepers sheltered at their base camp 2,261 people, of whom 1,049 were children.[1]
Background
Nagorno-Karabakh has been a disputed region between Azerbaijan and local ethnic Armenians. In 1991 the breakaway Armenian Republic of Artsakh, formerly the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, was formed there, but the region remained internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. The Republic of Artsakh soon formed its own military, the Artsakh Defence Army (ADA).
On 19 September 2023,
On 20 September, the ADA reported that Azerbaijani troops had broken through their lines and captured several heights and strategic road junctions.[1] On the same day, at an early morning press conference, Azerbaijani Colonel Anar Eyvazov called upon local ethnic Armenian forces to lay down their arms and surrender.[3] Shortly thereafter, the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh said they had accepted the proposal of the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent regarding a ceasefire.[1]
Agreement
The ceasefire agreement was reached on 20 September 2023, at 13:00 AZT under the following terms: the Artsakh Defence Army and all Armenian armed formations in the region would lay down their arms, leave combat positions and military posts and completely disarm, all units of the Armenian armed forces would leave the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, ethnic Armenian armed formations would be disbanded with the simultaneous surrender of all weapons and heavy equipment, while the implementation of those conditions would be ensured in coordination with the Russian peacekeeping contingent.[4] The agreement disbanded the Artsakh Defence Army after 31 years, a major development in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Although the agreement's terms envisaged complete surrender, it was framed as a ceasefire rather than instrument of surrender, pending the conclusion of a future peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Russia-mediated negotiations began on 21 September 2023 in Yevlakh over the agreement's terms, particularly the disarmament of the ADA and the reintegration of the Nagorno-Karabakhi population into Azerbaijan.
Disarmament
By 26 September 2023, Azerbaijan had seized 251,308 pieces of ammunition, 1,674
Reactions
In a televised address later on 20 September, Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev announced that the country had "restored its sovereignty" over Nagorno-Karabakh after the offensive, achieving the "complete surrender" of local Armenian forces.[7]
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan distanced himself from the agreement, saying that Armenia had not been involved in drafting the ceasefire and that "Armenia doesn’t have an army in Nagorno-Karabakh". Nonetheless, Pashinyan said he supported the ceasefire and it was "very important" that it held.[7] Protests in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, began over the government's alleged failure to protect ethnic Armenians, with protestors demanding the resignation of Pashinyan.
Aftermath
The Republic of Artsakh ultimately agreed to dissolve itself by 1 January 2024.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces reach Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire deal". Al Jazeera. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Azerbaijan Announces an 'Anti-Terrorist Operation' Targeting Armenian Positions in Nagorno-Karabakh". Voice of America. 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Polkovnik Anar Eyvazov: "Ermənistan silahlı qüvvələrinin birləşmələrini silahı yerə qoymağa və təslim olmağa çağırırıq" - VİDEO" (in Azerbaijani). Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Сепаратисты в Карабахе сдались Азербайджану" (in Russian). Trend News Agency. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Military equipment, weapons and ammunition seized in the Karabakh region - LIST". Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. 26 September 2023. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Azerbaijan provides update on weapons, ammunition confiscated in Garabagh". News.az. 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ a b Roth, Andrew; Jones, Sam; Amos, Howard (20 September 2023). "Nagorno-Karabakh: ceasefire agreed after dozens killed in military offensive". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will cease to exist from Jan 1 2024 - Nagorno-Karabakh authorities". Reuters. 2023-09-28. Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ "Nagorno-Karabakh dissolution not valid, says Armenian separatist leader". France 24. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-28.