Nagorno-Karabakh Self-Proclaimed Republic Dissolves: Local Authorities
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh have declared the dissolution of their self-proclaimed republic, in the wake of a Russian-mediated ceasefire that quelled hostilities between Stepanakert and Baku.
Samvel Shahramanyan, president of the unrecognized republic, issued a decree on Thursday, mandating the dissolution of all state institutions and their branches by January 1, 2024.
"The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases to exist," the announcement stated, as quoted by the NKR InfoCenter.
The decree further stipulates that the region's inhabitants, including those who have fled, should "familiarize themselves with the conditions of reintegration offered by the Republic of Azerbaijan" and independently decide whether to return to Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to the decree, this dissolution is linked to the "current difficult military-political situation" and aims to ensure the safety of Nagorno-Karabakh residents while considering the Russian-brokered agreement with Baku. This agreement permits residents of the breakaway region, including military personnel who lay down their arms, to travel freely.
This historic presidential decree marks the end of the unrecognized republic's existence, which had seceded from the Republic of Azerbaijan during the final days of the Soviet Union. The predominantly ethnic Armenian region has grappled with sporadic conflicts for decades, including a major war in the early 1990s that resulted in thousands of casualties and a ceasefire in 1994. Another significant conflict arose in 2020 when Baku gained control of much of the region, leading to a Russian-brokered ceasefire.
The current declaration follows Azerbaijan's initiation of an operation in the region, with accusations against Armenia for amassing troops, a claim denied by Yerevan. After a day of fighting, Nagorno-Karabakh and Baku declared a ceasefire. Per the terms of the agreement, all forces opposing Azerbaijan in the region must vacate their combat positions and surrender all weapons to Baku. The agreement also provides for dialogue on a wide range of issues between representatives of the Nagorno-Karabakh community and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The ceasefire has prompted a significant exodus of Nagorno-Karabakh residents from the region, with Armenian authorities reporting that over 65,000 people have arrived in the country. Earlier this week, President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that the reintegration of Nagorno-Karabakh would succeed and pledged to respect the rights of local residents.
