Nagorno-Karabakh’s Return to Azerbaijan Spurs Armenian Exodus

After being under separatist rule for three decades, Nagorno-Karabakh is planning to reunite with Azerbaijan. This move has caused 100,000 Armenians to leave the region. Armenia has called upon the United Nations’ highest court to enforce protective measures for Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenians.

Armenia is urging the International Court of Justice to introduce ten “provisional measures” to safeguard the rights of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, which Azerbaijan regained last month through a swift military operation.

In a 24-hour campaign starting on September 19, the Azerbaijani military overcame the undermanned and outgunned Armenian forces, compelling them to surrender. Subsequently, the separatist government agreed to disband itself by year-end, leading to over 100,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ethnic Cleansing Concerns

Armenia’s legal team, led by Yeghishe Kirakosyan, insists that only firm and explicit provisional measures protecting the rights of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh can prevent the ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Azerbaijan from continuing and becoming irreversible.

Azerbaijan is set to respond to these claims later. Their Foreign Ministry has contended that the Armenians’ departure was a personal decision and not related to forced relocation.

Historical Background

Nagorno-Karabakh, situated in the South Caucasus Mountains, was under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia following the end of six years of separatist fighting in 1994. However, in a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed parts of the region and surrounding territory previously claimed by Armenian forces. Nagorno-Karabakh was internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory.

The International Court of Justice is currently addressing two cases concerning the longstanding tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In 2021, Armenia filed a case alleging that Azerbaijan violated an international convention aimed at preventing racial discrimination. A week later, Azerbaijan countered with its case, accusing Armenia of breaching the same convention.

The court has already issued “provisional measure” rulings in both cases, intended to protect the rights of both nations and their citizens as the cases make their way through the court.

Urgent Concerns

Amid the ongoing legal proceedings, Armenia is accusing Azerbaijan of expelling Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. Alison Macdonald, a lawyer for Armenia, suggests that court orders could prevent Nagorno-Karabakh from being completely absorbed by Azerbaijan.

She emphasizes, “It is still possible to change how this story unfolds. The ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh is happening as we speak. It must not be allowed to set in stone.”