Nagorno-Karabakh conflict facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nagorno-Karabakh conflict |
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| Part of the post-Soviet conflicts | |||||||||
 Military situation in the region before September 20, 2023. For a detailed map, see here |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh; until 2023) ArmeniaMilitary support Foreign fighters Arms suppliers Diplomatic support |
 Turkey (2020) (alleged by Armenia)Foreign fighters Arms suppliers Diplomatic support Supported by: Turkey (2020) |
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| Units involved | |||||||||
 Artsakh Defence Army (until 2023) Armed Forces of Armenia |
 Azerbaijani Armed ForcesSoviet Armed Forces (until 1991) |
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| Strength | |||||||||
| 2018: 65,000 (active servicemen) 1993–1994: 30,000–40,000 |
2019: 66,950 (active servicemen) 1993–1994: 42,000–56,000 |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 28,000–38,000 killed (1988–1994) 3,000 killed (May 1994 – August 2009) 541–547+ killed (2010–2019) 7,717 killed (2020) 44 killed (2021–2022) |
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The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a long-lasting disagreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It's about who controls the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. This area was mostly home to ethnic Armenians until 2023. It also includes seven surrounding districts.
For a long time, the Nagorno-Karabakh region was claimed by a self-declared republic called Republic of Artsakh. However, other countries around the world saw it as part of Azerbaijan. Over time, Azerbaijan took back control of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding areas.
During the time of the Soviet Union, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh faced unfair treatment. The authorities in Soviet Azerbaijan tried to stop Armenian culture and identity. They also encouraged Armenians to leave and Azerbaijanis to move in. Still, Armenians remained the main group there.
In 1988, people in Nagorno-Karabakh voted to join Soviet Armenia. This was allowed by Soviet laws about self-determination. After this vote, there were attacks against Armenians in Azerbaijan. Soon, violence spread to both Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
The conflict became a full-scale war in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union broke apart. Artsakh and Armenia won this war. This led to them controlling areas around Nagorno-Karabakh. Many Armenians were forced to leave Azerbaijan, and many Azerbaijanis were forced to leave Armenia and Armenian-controlled areas.
A ceasefire (a stop to fighting) was signed in 1994. This brought about 20 years of peace, but things got worse in the 2010s. In April 2016, there was a short, four-day fight. Hundreds of people were hurt or killed, but the front lines didn't change much.
In late 2020, a major war, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, broke out. Thousands of people died, and Azerbaijan won a big victory. A new ceasefire agreement was signed on November 10. This meant Azerbaijan got back all the areas it had lost around Nagorno-Karabakh. It also took control of one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh itself.
Even after the 2020 war, there were still small fights along the border. In December 2022, Azerbaijan started a blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. This meant no supplies could get in. In September 2023, Azerbaijan launched another big military attack. This led to a new ceasefire. Most ethnic Armenians then left the region. The Republic of Artsakh officially ended on January 1, 2024.
Contents
- What Caused the Conflict?
- First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–1994)
- Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (2020)
- Border Issues (2021–Present)
- Blockade of Artsakh (2022-2023)
- Other Countries Involved
- Ceasefires and Peace Talks
- Major Ceasefire Agreements
- What Happened to Nagorno-Karabakh's Status?
- Images for kids
- See also
What Caused the Conflict?
After the Russian Empire fell apart, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh formed their own government in 1918. It was not recognized by other countries. In 1919, they were forced to accept Azerbaijan's authority for a short time. This was until a big peace meeting in Paris decided on the borders.
Since the peace meeting didn't decide on Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan demanded that Armenians accept being part of Azerbaijan. Armenia responded by helping start a rebellion in Nagorno-Karabakh. This led to a terrible event where many Armenians in the city of Shusha were killed or forced to leave. By 1921, Soviet leaders took control of Nagorno-Karabakh. They made it an "autonomous oblast" (a special region with some self-rule) within Soviet Azerbaijan.
In 1964, Armenians in Karabakh wrote to the Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev. They complained about how their region was managed. They asked for their area to join Soviet Armenia. The conflict continued quietly until Mikhail Gorbachev started his reforms.
As the Soviet Union began to break up in 1988–89, tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis grew. Many Armenians lived in Azerbaijan outside Nagorno-Karabakh, and many Azerbaijanis lived in Armenia. These groups saw their numbers drop as people moved or were forced to leave.
First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–1994)
The First Nagorno-Karabakh War was a fight that lasted from the late 1980s to May 1994. It happened in Nagorno-Karabakh, a small area in southwestern Azerbaijan. The fight was between ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, supported by Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
As the war went on, Armenia and Azerbaijan, both new countries after the Soviet Union, got deeply involved. They fought a long, undeclared war in the mountains of Karabakh. Azerbaijan tried to stop Nagorno-Karabakh from breaking away.
The local parliament in Nagorno-Karabakh voted to join Armenia. Then, a vote was held for independence. Most voters chose independence, but Azerbaijanis in the region did not take part. The desire to join Armenia started peacefully in 1988. But as the Soviet Union fell apart, the tensions turned into violent clashes. Both sides claimed the other side had committed "ethnic cleansing" (forcing people out based on their ethnicity) and "pogroms" (organized attacks).
Fights between the two groups started soon after February 20, 1988. That's when the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament voted to join Armenia. The breakup of the Soviet Union made it easier for Armenians in Soviet Azerbaijan to seek independence. They wanted to break away from Azerbaijan because of the land dispute. When Azerbaijan declared its independence from the Soviet Union, the Armenian majority in Nagorno-Karabakh voted to leave Azerbaijan. They then declared their own unrecognized country, the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Full-scale fighting began in early 1992. Many groups, like the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), tried to help find a solution, but they failed. By spring 1993, Armenian forces took control of land outside Nagorno-Karabakh itself. This made other countries in the region worry they might get involved.
By the end of the war in 1994, Armenians controlled most of Nagorno-Karabakh. They also held about 9% of Azerbaijan's territory outside the region. About 230,000 Armenians from Azerbaijan and 800,000 Azerbaijanis from Armenia and Karabakh were forced to leave their homes. This basically cleared Armenians from Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis from Armenia and Karabakh. Russia helped arrange a ceasefire, which was signed in May 1994. This led to talks to find a peaceful solution.
Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (2020)
Big fights started on September 27, 2020. Azerbaijan launched an attack along the front line that was set up after the first war. The fighting was very intense in the flatter areas of southern Nagorno-Karabakh. On the same day, Azerbaijan declared martial law (military rule) and set curfews (times people had to stay indoors) in several cities. Turkey helped Azerbaijan militarily, though how much help is debated.
This war saw the use of drones, sensors, powerful artillery, and missile attacks. Both sides also used social media for propaganda. Azerbaijan's widespread use of drones was very important in deciding the war's outcome. Many countries and the United Nations strongly spoke out against the fighting. They asked both sides to calm down and start serious talks again. Three ceasefires arranged by Russia, France, and the United States failed to stop the conflict.
After Azerbaijan captured Shusha, the second-largest city in Nagorno-Karabakh, a ceasefire agreement was signed. This ended all fighting from November 10, 2020. Under the agreement, both sides kept the areas they controlled in Nagorno-Karabakh at the time of the ceasefire. Armenia returned the surrounding territories it had controlled since 1994 to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan was also given a way to connect to its separate territory, Nakhchivan, which borders Turkey and Iran.
About 2,000 Russian soldiers were sent as peacekeepers. They were placed along the Lachin corridor, a road connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Their job was to keep the peace for at least five years. After the war, an unknown number of Armenian soldiers were held captive in Azerbaijan. There were reports of them being treated badly, leading to a case at the International Court of Justice.
Many people died in the war. Official numbers said thousands. Armenia and Artsakh reported 3,825 soldiers killed and 187 missing. Azerbaijan said 2,906 of its soldiers were killed and 6 were missing. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 541 Syrian fighters died fighting for Azerbaijan. However, it was noted that both sides likely reported lower numbers for their own losses and higher numbers for the enemy's.
At least 185 civilians were killed on both sides. The location of 21 Armenian civilians is still unknown. Civilian areas, including major cities, were hit. These included Stepanakert, Martuni, Martakert, and Shushi in Artsakh. In Azerbaijan, Ganja, Barda, and Tartar were also hit. Many buildings and homes were destroyed.
Border Issues (2021–Present)
A border crisis began on May 12, 2021. Azerbaijani soldiers moved several kilometers into Armenia in the Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces. They took control of about 41 square kilometers of Armenian land. Azerbaijan has not removed its troops from Armenian territory, even though the European Parliament, United States, and France have asked them to.
The crisis got worse in July 2021 with clashes on the Armenia–Nakhchivan border. The fighting then spread to the Gegharkunik–Kalbajar area. Both sides reported people killed. In November 2021, European Parliament officials called Azerbaijan's military action the worst violation of the 2020 ceasefire.
New clashes in August 2022 resulted in three deaths. Russia accused Azerbaijan of breaking the ceasefire. On September 13, 2022, large-scale clashes broke out again. Armenia said Azerbaijan attacked its positions with artillery and heavy weapons. Azerbaijan said Armenia had caused "large-scale provocations." At least 49 Armenian soldiers and 50 Azeri soldiers were killed.
Blockade of Artsakh (2022-2023)
On December 12, 2022, people from Azerbaijan, who said they were "eco-activists," started a blockade of the Lachin corridor. This is the only road connecting Artsakh to the outside world and to Armenia. It is guarded by Russian peacekeepers.
Even though they claimed to be peaceful, the blockade caused big problems for the people of Artsakh. It stopped food, fuel, and medicine from getting into Artsakh. Shortages became widespread, and emergency supplies had to be carefully shared. In the first few days, Azerbaijan also cut off the gas supply to Artsakh.
Many believe the Azerbaijani government planned the blockade. They see it as a way to weaken Artsakh and eventually take it over. Many countries and international groups have spoken out against the blockade. They also questioned if the "eco-activist" claims were real. The people involved in the blockade had little history of environmental activism. They worked for Azerbaijani state groups, were supported by the government, and showed nationalist symbols. Critics also noted that people in Azerbaijan usually don't have the freedom to protest like this. The people blocking the road demanded that Azerbaijan take full control of the Lachin corridor.
Other Countries Involved
Russia's Role
Russia officially stays neutral and tries to help solve the conflict. In its statements, Russia asks for peace and calm during fights. Some people in Azerbaijan believe Russia has always supported Armenia. However, others say Russia has helped both sides at different times.
During the first war, many thought Russia supported Armenia. This was partly because Russia sent military aid to Armenia. Russia supplied about $1 billion worth of weapons, which helped Armenia win. But Russia also gave some help to Azerbaijan.
After the war, Russia became Armenia's main arms supplier. The two countries are military allies. While some see Russia as Armenia's supporter, this is often questioned. Russia also sells many weapons to Azerbaijan. Armenia buys Russian weapons at a lower price, while Azerbaijan pays full price.
Turkey's Role
Turkey is widely seen as Azerbaijan's main supporter in the conflict. It has always shown strong support for Azerbaijan. Turkey also gave Azerbaijan active military help during the war. Turkey also supports Azerbaijan in diplomatic talks.
Turkish and Azerbaijani armies work closely together and often hold military exercises. Azerbaijan has also bought weapons from Turkey. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in April 1993 after Armenian forces captured Kalbajar. Before that, the border was only open for humanitarian aid. Turkey has refused to have normal diplomatic relations with Armenia. This is to show solidarity with Azerbaijan over Karabakh.
Iran's Role
Iran officially stays neutral and has tried to help solve the conflict, especially in 1992. Iran asks for a peaceful solution and calm during fights. At the same time, Iranian officials have said they support Azerbaijan's control over its land.
During the war, Iran was unsure what to do. But it ended up helping Armenia more, though this was mainly through economic cooperation. Iran was Armenia's main supplier of electricity and goods. After Armenia took control of Karabakh, Iranian trucks supplied most of the region's needs.
Some Iranian officials have claimed that Iran helped equip and train Azerbaijan's army. They also said many Iranians died in the Karabakh War. However, the Iranian embassy in Armenia said they didn't want false information to hurt their friendly relations. In October 2020, there were protests in Iranian cities supporting Azerbaijan. Many Iranian Azerbaijanis protested Iran's alleged arms support to Armenia.
United States' Role
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Some people believe the US supported Azerbaijan's control over its land. But its actions sometimes helped Armenia's goals. The US response to the conflict has been mixed. Congress was influenced by Armenian groups, while the White House and State Department leaned towards Azerbaijan. This was due to Turkish influence and oil company interests.
The US Congress showed its support for Armenia by passing a law in 1992. This law stopped aid to Azerbaijan. It was later changed in 2001 and stopped by President George W. Bush in 2002. The US gives military aid to both countries. Most of the money for Azerbaijan was for its navy. This was to reduce the risk of it being used against Armenia. The US aid to Azerbaijan greatly increased in 2018–19. This aid is mainly to put pressure on Iran and focuses on Azerbaijan's border with Iran.
The US also gave humanitarian aid to Artsakh, including money for clearing landmines. Azerbaijan criticized this aid. They said it made the "illegal regime" in the occupied lands seem legitimate. They also said it hurt the US's reputation as a neutral helper.
2008 UN Vote
On March 14, 2008, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution. It said that Azerbaijan's land should remain whole. It demanded that all Armenian forces leave the areas they had taken. 39 countries voted for it, 7 voted against, and most others didn't vote or were absent.
Most Muslim countries supported the resolution. Some former Soviet countries and five other nations also supported it. However, the countries that help mediate the conflict (France, US, Russia) voted against it. They said the resolution only focused on some principles and could harm the peace process. But they still said they supported Azerbaijan's control over its land and did not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh's independence.
Ceasefires and Peace Talks
A ceasefire arranged by Russia was signed in May 1994. Since then, Armenia and Azerbaijan have held peace talks. These talks are led by the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, US, France). Azerbaijan has often said that the Minsk Group is biased towards Armenia.
In 1996, when France was chosen to help lead the Minsk Group, Azerbaijan asked the OSCE to rethink. They felt France supported Armenia too much. Some experts also believed France, the US, and Russia were somewhat biased towards Armenia. In 2018, Azerbaijan accused the US and France of bias. This was because they allowed the then-president of Artsakh to visit their countries.
Major Ceasefire Agreements
Two major agreements to stop fighting happened after the First and Second Nagorno-Karabakh Wars. Both ceasefires were arranged by Russia. The first one also involved the OSCE Minsk Group. The 1994 Bishkek Protocol asked both sides to stop fighting. It also called for talks to remove weapons from the region, allow people to return home, and create a peacekeeping force.
Under the 2020 agreement, Armenia returned all the land it had taken around Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan kept control of one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh that it had captured. The 2020 agreement also gave Russian peacekeepers a temporary job in the region, which could be renewed.
After the 2020 war, Russia and the European Union increased their presence in Armenia. This was to make the border more stable and stop attacks from Azerbaijan. Russia's security service expanded its patrols in Armenia. The EU also sent a civilian monitoring mission. While these efforts helped prevent a full-scale war, they couldn't completely stop Azerbaijan's goals.
Russia and the European Union have criticized each other's presence in Armenia. The EU told Armenia to look for other security partners. They said Russia's promise to protect Armenia had not been kept. Russia, in turn, criticized the EU and Armenia for the civilian monitoring. Russia claimed it was an attempt by Western countries to reduce Russia's influence in the region.
Bishkek Protocol
A ceasefire arranged by Russia was signed in May 1994. Since then, Armenia and Azerbaijan have held peace talks. These talks are led by the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, US, France). Azerbaijan has often said that the Minsk Group is biased towards Armenia.
In 1996, when France was chosen to help lead the Minsk Group, Azerbaijan asked the OSCE to rethink. They felt France supported Armenia too much. Some experts also believed France, the US, and Russia were somewhat biased towards Armenia. In 2018, Azerbaijan accused the US and France of bias. This was because they allowed the then-president of Artsakh to visit their countries.
2020 Ceasefire
On November 9, 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a ceasefire with Russia's help. The Republic of Artsakh also agreed to stop fighting. Under the agreement, both sides kept the areas they controlled at midnight. Armenia returned the territories around Nagorno-Karabakh that it had controlled since the 1990s. Azerbaijan also kept control of one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh that it had captured during the war. This included Shusha and Hadrut. In total, Armenia lost about 75% of the land it controlled in and around Nagorno-Karabakh before the war. Until 2020, independent Azerbaijan had never truly controlled the region.
About 2,000 Russian soldiers were sent as peacekeepers around Nagorno-Karabakh. Their job was for at least five years. The peacekeepers also oversaw the Lachin corridor. This road remains the only way between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Another route has been closed by Azerbaijan since it took control of a section during the 2020 war.
2023 Ceasefire Agreement
A day after fighting started again, a ceasefire agreement was announced. The government of the Republic of Artsakh agreed to give up its weapons. It also agreed to talk with Azerbaijan about becoming part of Azerbaijan again.
Russian Peacekeepers Leave in 2024
On June 12, 2024, the Russian peacekeepers finished leaving the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Their withdrawal had started in April that year. This happened after an agreement between Russian President Putin and Azerbaijani President Aliyev.
What Happened to Nagorno-Karabakh's Status?
The political status of Nagorno-Karabakh was unclear from 1991, when it declared independence from the Soviet Union, until it dissolved in 2024. Within the Soviet Union, it was a special Armenian region within Azerbaijan. From 1994 to 2024, many international groups tried to find a solution. None of them worked. No country, not even Armenia, recognized the Republic of Artsakh as an independent country. However, many human rights groups said the local Armenian people had a right to decide their own future. They saw this as a way to prevent harm to the group.
After the 2020 war, Azerbaijan stopped offering special status or self-rule to its ethnic Armenian residents. Instead, it insisted they become "normal citizens" of Azerbaijan. In 2023, Azerbaijani President Aliyev said that Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh must be "reintegrated" as Azerbaijani citizens. He said the idea of special status was gone. Aliyev also threatened military action.
Even though Azerbaijan offered citizenship, Artsakh residents did not trust Azerbaijan's promises of safety. This was because of Azerbaijan's history of human rights problems and negative feelings towards Armenians. Many human rights experts and politicians saw the blockade of Artsakh as a form of "ethnic cleansing" (forcing people out based on their ethnicity). They warned of the risk of serious harm to the group. Many international observers also did not believe Azerbaijan's claim that Artsakh Armenians could live safely under Aliyev's rule.
Images for kids
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Graves of Azerbaijani soldiers
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Photos of fallen Armenian soldiers in Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh
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A truck with the slogan "Karabakh is Azerbaijan" at the Baku Victory Parade on 10 December. The parade was held in honor of the Azeri victory in the 2020 conflict.
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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on 23 January 2012
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Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 25 February 2020
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Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov on 16 February 2017
See also
In Spanish: Conflicto del Alto Karabaj para niños
- Armenia–Azerbaijan border
- List of ongoing armed conflicts
