Skip next section Almost half of the Armenian population is fleeing
09/27/202327. September 2023
Almost half of the Armenian population is fleeing
More than 53,000 people, or about 45% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s 120,000 residents, had left the region for Armenia by nightfall on Wednesday, Armenian authorities said.
The mountain road leading from Nagrono-Karabakh to Armenia has been blocked for days as people continue to flee the region. Many reportedly slept in their cars, trying to stay warm while stuck in traffic.
According to reports, the journey of just 77 kilometers to the border took at least 30 hours.
https://p.dw.com/p/4WszNSkip next section USAID chief discusses humanitarian situation during visit to Azerbaijan
09/27/202327. September 2023
USAID chief discusses humanitarian situation in Azerbaijan
Senior White House officials arrived in Azerbaijan as a humanitarian crisis and an exodus of tens of thousands of people emerged.
US Agency for International Development (USAID) chief Samantha Power and US State Department Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim are expected to meet with Azerbaijan to discuss the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Importance of Azerbaijan’s compliance with its commitments will be discussed by President Ilham Aliyev.
Power “will also address the prospects for a lasting and dignified peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia based on mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” USAID said in a statement.
Power visited Armenia earlier this week, where she pledged that Washington would stand in solidarity with Armenia, adding that it was critical for the international community to gain access to Nagorno-Karabakh to investigate reports of an unknown number of people to check who were injured and had to be evacuated. There is a lack of food and other essentials.
https://p.dw.com/p/4Wsw8Skip next section Former Nagorno-Karabakh separatist leader arrested, Baku says
09/27/202327. September 2023
Former Nagorno-Karabakh separatist leader arrested, Baku says
The Azerbaijani Border Guard Service said on Wednesday it had arrested the former leader of the Nagorno-Karabakh separatist movement.
Ruben Vardanyan, a billionaire businessman and philanthropist of Armenian descent, was taken to the Azerbaijani capital Baku, authorities said.
His wife wrote on social media that he was arrested while trying to flee Nagorno-Karabakh “with thousands of Armenians.”
Vardanyan took over the leadership of the separatist movement in November last year after giving up his Russian citizenship and moving to Nagorno-Karabakh. He resigned in February 2023.
His arrest is seen as a confirmation of Azerbaijan’s move to quickly assert its control over the area following last week’s military operations.
https://p.dw.com/p/4WrYKSkip next section According to Armenia, more than 47,000 refugees came from Nagorno-Karabakh
09/27/202327. September 2023
According to Armenia, more than 47,000 refugees came from Nagorno-Karabakh
According to Armenian authorities, around 47,115 people have arrived from Nagorno-Karabakh since last week. Officials increased the total to over 50,000 people later on Wednesday.
That would represent a third of all ethnic Armenians in the region, which was recaptured by Azerbaijan after a military offensive last week.
The figures have not been independently verified, but thousands of people have fled the region in recent days.
Separatist authorities have warned that Armenians in the region face ethnic cleansing after Azerbaijan regains control.
Baku has rejected these claims and said it seeks a “peaceful reintegration” of the former breakaway territory.
“It is no surprise that Armenians fled,” says the researcher
To view this video, please enable JavaScript and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videos
https://p.dw.com/p/4WqsXSkip next section According to Azerbaijan, 192 soldiers were killed in last week’s operation
09/27/202327. September 2023
According to Azerbaijan, 192 soldiers were killed in last week’s operation
According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Health, 192 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed and over 500 injured in the military offensive to retake Nagorno-Karabakh last week.
Separatist Nagorno-Karabakh officials previously claimed at least 200 lives on their side, including 10 civilians, and 400 were injured.
Last week’s operation saw Azerbaijan retake control of the Armenian-majority territory, which had been controlled by separatists for around 30 years. Nagorno-Karabakh is home to about 120,000 ethnic Armenians and is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
Tens of thousands have already fled the region for Armenia, and the number is expected to rise after Azerbaijan lifted its blockade of the roads between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.
https://p.dw.com/p/4Wqm2Skip next section Germany and the USA are pushing for international observers and humanitarian aid
09/27/202327. September 2023
Germany and the USA are pushing for international observers and humanitarian aid
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on the Azerbaijani government to allow independent observers into the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
In a statement on Wednesday, Baerbock said that Germany and its partners are “working hard to send observers as quickly as possible” and that Germany is increasing its humanitarian aid from 2 million euros to 5 million euros ($5.2 million). become.
She said allowing an international observer mission was a “vote of confidence” that Baku was committed to the “security and well-being” of people in the region.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also emphasized the need for an international mission in his conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday. Blinken also called on Aliyev to “refrain from further hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh and ensure unhindered access for humanitarian assistance.”
Nagorno-Karabakh was blockaded by Azerbaijan for several months before Baku retook control of the breakaway region last week and promised to guarantee the rights of ethnic Armenians.
But thousands have fled in recent days amid a lack of basic needs and many fearing reprisals from Azerbaijani forces.
The exodus of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh is increasing
To view this video, please enable JavaScript and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videos
fg/fb (AFP, AP, dpa, Portal)
https://p.dw.com/p/4Wqlc