Armenian Exodus: Why Fleeing Azerbaijan?

why are armenians fleeing azerbaijan

In 2023, over 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but has been governed and populated by ethnic Armenians. This mass displacement has been described as a war crime or crime against humanity, with international experts accusing Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing. The conflict is an ethnic and territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with a long history of anti-Armenian sentiment in the region.

Characteristics Values
Reason for fleeing Fear of ethnic cleansing, authoritarian rule, and persecution
Time period September 2023
Number of refugees 50,000+
% of population that fled 99%
Death toll 218 civilians died in a fuel distribution centre explosion, 70 civilians died en route to Armenia
Injured 300+
Missing 105+
Region Nagorno-Karabakh
Destination Armenia
Distance travelled 77km (48 miles)
Journey time 30 hours
Mode of transport Cars, trucks, buses
Humanitarian aid EU, Germany, UN, US, Iran, UK, USAID, Cyprus

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Fear of ethnic cleansing and persecution

The fear of ethnic cleansing and persecution is a significant factor driving Armenians to flee Azerbaijan. This fear is not unfounded, given the historical context and recent events.

Firstly, it is essential to understand the complex history of the region. The Nagorno-Karabakh region, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, has been governed and predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians for decades. However, there has been a long-standing ethnic and territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over this region.

In the past, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh faced economic marginalisation and cultural discrimination under Azeri rule. Authorities encouraged the settlement of Azeris from outside the region, leading to a significant exodus of Armenians. This policy, sometimes called "White Genocide," aimed to "de-Armenise" the territory culturally and physically. Armenian cultural institutions were closed or destroyed, and restrictions limited cultural exchanges and communication with Armenia.

Secondly, more recent events have exacerbated fears of ethnic cleansing. In 2020, a six-week war between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted in a Russian-brokered armistice. As part of the ceasefire deal, separatists agreed to surrender and disarm. Azerbaijan reclaimed territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh and a third of the region itself.

However, violations of the ceasefire persisted, resulting in sporadic casualties. In December 2022, Azerbaijan blocked the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, for nine months. During this blockade, Azerbaijan also sabotaged critical civilian infrastructure, disrupting access to gas, electricity, and the internet in Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Despite the International Court of Justice ordering Azerbaijan to ensure free movement, supplies ran dangerously low, causing a dire situation for the Armenian population.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan initiated a military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the surrender of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh and the further displacement of Armenians. While the Azerbaijani government issued assurances that Armenian residents would be safely reintegrated and treated as "equal citizens," these claims were not deemed credible due to Azerbaijan's history of authoritarianism and repression of its Armenian population.

The mass displacement and conditions imposed on Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh have been characterised as a form of ethnic cleansing by various political analysts, legal experts, and international organisations. Luis Moreno Ocampo, the inaugural Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, cautioned that Azerbaijan's actions, including the blockade, violated the 1948 Genocide Convention by deliberately inflicting conditions aiming to bring about the physical destruction of the Armenian group.

Additionally, there have been reports of abusive messages and threats targeting Armenian civilians on Azerbaijani social media channels, further fuelling fears of ethnic persecution.

As a result, tens of thousands of Armenians have fled Nagorno-Karabakh, seeking refuge in Armenia. They face rigorous checks at the border, and there are concerns about their treatment by Azerbaijani authorities. The fear of ethnic cleansing and persecution is, therefore, a significant factor in the exodus of Armenians from Azerbaijan.

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Azerbaijan's seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh

In 1988, a referendum was held in Nagorno-Karabakh, with the region voting to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia, citing self-determination laws in the Soviet constitution. This vote was boycotted by the Azerbaijani population and sparked a series of pogroms against Armenians across Azerbaijan, leading to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. This conflict lasted from 1988 to 1994 and resulted in a victory for Armenia, with a Russian-brokered ceasefire known as the Bishkek Protocol leaving Nagorno-Karabakh de facto independent.

However, this independence was short-lived. In 2020, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War broke out, resulting in a significant Azerbaijani victory. This war allowed Azerbaijan to reclaim all the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh and a third of the region itself. A ceasefire was brokered by Russia, France, and the United States, but violations of this agreement were frequent, with Azerbaijan and Armenia accusing each other of attacks and incursions.

In December 2022, Azerbaijan began a blockade of the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. This blockade lasted for nine months and had severe humanitarian consequences for the region's residents, with food, fuel, and medicine blocked from entering. During this time, Azerbaijan also sabotaged critical civilian infrastructure, disrupting access to gas, electricity, and the internet.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive on Nagorno-Karabakh, aiming to disarm the self-declared republic's military. This assault lasted 24 hours and resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides. The Republic of Artsakh's government agreed to surrender terms, and negotiations began over the disarmament of Armenian separatists and the reintegration of Nagorno-Karabakh into Azerbaijan.

Faced with the prospect of rule by Azerbaijan, the majority of Nagorno-Karabakh's ethnic Armenian population fled to Armenia. Over 100,000 people left the region in just one week, with those remaining facing the threat of forced integration into Azerbaijani society. This mass displacement has been described by international experts as a war crime or crime against humanity, with Azerbaijan accused of ethnic cleansing and authoritarian repression of its Armenian population.

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The threat of war crimes charges

The blockade imposed by Azerbaijan on the Lachin corridor, the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, resulted in a humanitarian crisis for the Armenian population. This blockade, which lasted from December 2022 to September 2023, restricted the flow of essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, leading to shortages and a deterioration of living conditions. The International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to ensure free movement and protect the health and lives of the Armenian population in the region. However, despite this order, Azerbaijan continued the blockade, causing supplies to deplete and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan in September 2023 further heightened fears of war crimes and ethnic cleansing. There were reports of extrajudicial executions, torture, and ill-treatment of Armenians who were detained by Azerbaijani forces. Additionally, the disproportionate impact of violence on older ethnic Armenians, including killings and torture, was documented by Amnesty International. The organisation also reported on the challenges faced by older people during displacement, including lack of access to adequate housing, loss of livelihoods, and insufficient mental health support.

The history of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in the 1990s and the more recent Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, has left a legacy of mistrust and animosity. The failure of Russian peacekeepers to prevent Azerbaijan's offensive in 2023 further eroded confidence in the protection of Armenian civilians. As a result, the threat of war crimes and the lack of security guarantees prompted a mass exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, with over 50,000 fleeing to Armenia.

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Limited humanitarian aid

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis. The mass displacement of ethnic Armenians from the region has left thousands of vulnerable refugees in need of aid. The situation has been characterised by international experts as a war crime or crime against humanity.

The European Union has been at the forefront of providing humanitarian aid to address this crisis. In response to the escalation of hostilities and the exodus of people from Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, the EU provided over €12 million in humanitarian aid. This funding aimed to assist vulnerable individuals inside Nagorno-Karabakh and those who fled to Armenia, ensuring their access to basic needs, healthcare, shelter, food, and protection. In 2024, the EU further strengthened its humanitarian operations in the region with an additional €5.5 million in funding.

However, the humanitarian response to this crisis has also faced challenges and limitations. The United Nations, as the world's largest multilateral organisation, has been criticised for its cautious approach and reluctance to push for access to Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan's lobbying within the UN has deterred international pressure, and the organisation has been accused of becoming politicised.

The UN's limited response has prompted calls for separate UN missions to monitor the rights of Armenians in the region and to address the humanitarian crisis. International human rights organisations have also urged Azerbaijan to ensure the rights of civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

While the EU's humanitarian aid has provided crucial support, the overall humanitarian response has been constrained by the complex political dynamics and the reluctance of certain organisations to engage more actively in the region.

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Historical context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an ethnic and territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is located within Azerbaijan but is predominantly inhabited by Armenians. The conflict can be traced back to the Soviet period, during which Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast faced economic marginalization, cultural discrimination, and population replacement by Azeri settlers.

In 1988, ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh demanded to secede from Soviet Azerbaijan and join Armenia, citing self-determination laws in the Soviet constitution. This triggered a series of pogroms against Armenians across Azerbaijan, leading to the outbreak of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994). The war resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people on both sides. A Russian-brokered ceasefire in 1994 left Nagorno-Karabakh de facto independent, with a self-proclaimed government in Stepanakert, but still heavily reliant on close economic, political, and military ties with Armenia.

Despite the ceasefire, intermittent clashes and border tensions continued to plague the region. In April 2016, intense fighting along the line of separation resulted in hundreds of casualties. Then, in September 2020, full-scale war resumed, known as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. This conflict ended in November 2020 with a Russian-brokered ceasefire, which left Azerbaijan in control of the seven districts adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh and a third of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. A Russian peacekeeping force was deployed to the region, and a corridor was established to serve as a transit route connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

However, the ceasefire did not bring lasting peace. In December 2022, Azerbaijan began blockading the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, leading to severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine for the region's residents. This blockade lasted until September 2023, when Azerbaijan launched a military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the surrender of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh and the mass exodus of ethnic Armenians from the region.

Frequently asked questions

Armenians are fleeing Azerbaijan due to the threat of ethnic cleansing and violence. Azerbaijan's military offensive in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated by ethnic Armenians, has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 100,000 people.

The international community has expressed alarm and condemned the violence, with some calling it a war crime or crime against humanity. The European Union, the United States, and other countries have offered humanitarian aid and called for protections for civilians.

The future remains uncertain. While there have been calls for peace and negotiations, there are ongoing concerns about the potential for further conflict and human rights violations.

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