A decree issued on Thursday, the 28th of September, announces that the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh will cease to exist, and ethnic Armenians that still live there will come under Azerbaijani rule. The decree, signed by de facto President Samvel Shahramanyan, outlines the dissolution of all state institutions and organisations under their jurisdiction by the 1st of January, 2024, reports Politico.
The decree also states that the local population of Nagorno-Karabakh “should familiarise themselves with the reintegration conditions presented by the Republic of Azerbaijan”, which is intended to allow people to make an independent decision on whether to
remain in Nagorno-Karabakh or consider returning.
Since the opening of the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, some 65 036 people have left their homes, cites Politico, according to the Armenian government.
Hikmet Hajiyev, Azerbaijan’s foreign policy chief, said in an interview with Politico on Monday that those who have fled Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to return. However, many who fled to Armenia have expressed fears that they will never be able to return to their homeland.
BNN already reported that on Wednesday, the 20th of September, Armenians in Azerbaijan’s breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region agreed to a Russian ceasefire proposal, after Azerbaijan launched military operations on Tuesday, the 19th of September.
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