CNN –
The United Nations will send a mission to Nagorno-Karabakh this weekend. This is the first entry into the breakaway region in about 30 years, as more than 80% of the population has reportedly been displaced.
The announcement came following Azerbaijan’s lightning victory over the territory, marking the end of long years of fighting.
Concerns about the future of the region – internationally considered part of Azerbaijan despite being under separatist control for decades – and its residents continue despite a Russian-brokered ceasefire.
As of Saturday morning local time, more than 100,000 people had left Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia, Armenian Prime Minister’s spokeswoman Nazeli Baghdasaryan told reporters.
That’s more than 80% of the enclave’s estimated 120,000 residents.
UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during a press conference on Friday that Azerbaijan had agreed to the mission’s visit and it would take place over the weekend.
“We haven’t had access there for about 30 years. That’s why it’s very important that we get in,” he said.
“During its stay, the team will attempt to assess the situation on the ground and identify humanitarian needs for both those remaining and those fleeing,” the spokesperson added.
David Ghahramanyan/Portal
Vehicles carrying refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh drive towards the Armenian border on September 25, 2023.
Armenian authorities have responded to the exodus by asking the International Court of Justice, a legal arm of the United Nations, to order Azerbaijan to withdraw its troops – citing fears of “punitive measures”.
They called for Azerbaijan’s court order to “withdraw all military and law enforcement personnel from all civilian facilities in Nagorno-Karabakh” while refraining from “taking direct or indirect measures” that would lead to the expulsion or prevention of the remaining ethnic Armenian ones who fled before returning.
Azerbaijan should also allow people to leave the region “unhindered” if they want to, the Armenian authorities demanded.
Armenia also asked the court to order Azerbaijan to allow the United Nations and the Red Cross access to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijan should “refrain from taking punitive measures against current or former political representatives or military personnel of Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Armenian authorities said.
Commander arrested
The appeal comes after Azerbaijani state media reported on Friday that the country’s security services had arrested two former military commanders of the self-proclaimed “Artsakh Republic”.
Loven Mnatsakanyan and Davit Manukyan were intercepted as they attempted to cross from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia via the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting the landlocked enclave with Armenia.
Mnatsakanyan, who reportedly served as defense minister from 2015 to 2018, was arrested on Friday and taken to the Azebaijani capital Baku, according to state media. He was accused of entering its territory illegally.
Azerbaijani state media reported Manukyan, who reportedly served as a former deputy commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces, was arrested on Wednesday.
He was accused of engaging in terrorism, forming illegal armed groups, illegally possessing firearms and illegally entering Azerbaijan, although no evidence was provided to support these allegations.
A video released by the Azerbaijani State Security Service showing Manukyan in Azerbaijani custody could not be independently verified by CNN.
The announcement of the arrests came after prominent Nagorno-Karabakh politician and businessman Ruben Vardanyan was indicted in Azerbaijan on Thursday on several charges after he was arrested the day before while attempting to enter Armenia, according to state reports Media citing the Azerbaijani State Security Service reported.
Vardanyan, a former state minister of the self-proclaimed republic, is accused of financing terrorism, participating in the creation and activities of illegal armed groups and illegally crossing Azerbaijan’s borders, according to state media. Azerbaijan has provided no evidence to support its claims.
On Thursday, local politician David Babayan, an adviser to Samvel Shahramanyan, president of the self-proclaimed “Republic of Artsakh,” wrote on Telegram that he would surrender to Azerbaijan.
“My non-appearance or, worse, my escape will cause serious harm to our suffering nation and many people and I as an honest person, hard worker, patriot and Christian cannot allow that,” Babayan wrote.