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After six weeks of fighting, the shooting ceased, on November 10, 2020, with an agreement reaching Azerbaijan to regain control of approximately one-third of the Nagorno Karabakh region and most of the seven neighboring lands that were captured. by Armenian forces in the first war with Baku a quarter of a century ago.
Thus, Baku achieved by force what it had not been able to do during 26 years of negotiations, and the ceasefire, mediated by Russia, strengthened the achievements of Azerbaijan and drew the characteristics of a new regime in the southern Caucasus, according to a International Crisis Group report.
The group considered that the ceasefire contributed to the return of some displaced people and the beginning of reconstruction, in a month, but raises many questions that confirm that the conflict in the region remains unresolved, especially since the consolidation of the achievements of Azerbaijan made the future of the region unclear. The questions posed by the international group can be summarized as follows:
What is the situation in Karabakh and its future government?
The group emphasized that the biggest question is about the future government in part of the region, which it described as a “new and smaller region” as the latter is still outside of Baku’s control as Russian forces have deployed. in it organizing a campaign for the return of the Armenians to it, at a time when Azerbaijan considers this land.
As for the Azerbaijanis, after the defeat of the Armenian forces, it is no longer possible to agree to granting independence or autonomy to this region, while Yerevan insists that the legal status should reflect the desire of the Armenian population. and your right to self-determination.
In this context, the foreign ministers of Russia and France called for more talks on governance in this region. De facto political authorities are still administering the new smaller Karabakh district, according to the group.
What are the objectives of the Russian mission?
Russia sent 1960 soldiers to the region, as well as civilian and government employees to provide various types of assistance, especially to ensure the reconstruction mission, but their objectives are not clear to the group that said: “Are the peacekeepers present only? to deter and respond to incidents that could lead to another war and to do so? ” Patrolling the lane through Lachin?
She added: “If they are stationed only on the Armenian side of the line, under what circumstances will they act to restrict Azerbaijani forces and how?”, Noting that the number of forces is low due to logistical requirements as well as the patrols, as well as the role of the Russian mission in helping the Armenians to return. Moscow is looking toward its full-scale mandate.
What about religious sites and monuments?
Since 1994, Azerbaijanis have complained that mosques and cultural artifacts in the region and neighboring lands have been neglected and desecrated, and Armenians have denounced the damage to Armenian churches and cemeteries in Azerbaijani-controlled areas.
Baku is currently under international pressure to ensure that Armenian Christian religious sites and historical monuments are taken care of, and that Armenians have access to them, but videos on social media showing Azerbaijanis destroying Armenian churches, tombstones and monuments they portend a promising future and open up many possibilities.
The clashes return tension to Karabakh … mutual accusations and threats to “smash heads”
Armenian officials accused Azerbaijan on Saturday of violating the peace agreement that ended six weeks of heavy fighting in Nagorno Karabakh.
Do you get liability for war crimes?
Armenia and Azerbaijan exchange charges of committing war crimes, at a time when video clips and photographs of torture and execution of prisoners are circulating in both countries. Both Baku and Yerevan also sent applications to the European Court of Human Rights, demanding that it take action against the other.
Up to now, the Azerbaijani Military Prosecutor and Prosecutor have initiated criminal proceedings on the basis of a video clip showing the inhumane treatment of Armenian prisoners and corpses by the Azerbaijani army. Baku arrested two soldiers accused of mutilation and called on the Armenian police authorities to take similar measures.
Azerbaijan announces the start of a prisoner exchange process with Armenia
Azerbaijan announced on Monday the start of a prisoner exchange process with Armenia, more than a month after the agreement ended the six-week battles between the two countries for control of Nagorno-Karabakh.
