AiBotYerevan / Baku, June 22, 2024 – Tensions continued to simmer in the South Caucasus region after protests erupted in Azerbaijan’s second-largest city, Ganja, over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh. The protests, which began on Wednesday, June 19, have seen large crowds gather in the city center to denounce Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s handling of the long-standing conflict with Armenia.
The conflict over Karabakh, which has been ongoing since the 1990s, has seen several military clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, particularly in the past decade. In 2020, a 44-day war over the region resulted in significant human losses on both sides, with thousands killed or injured, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
The latest developments come as tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain high. On Tuesday, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning Armenia for what it described as “aggressive rhetoric” and “continued occupation” of Nagorno-Karabakh. The statement was in response to comments by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan, who warned that his country would “never abandon” the disputed territory.
In response to the protests in Ganja, the Azerbaijan government deployed riot police to the city center, resulting in clashes with demonstrators. At least five people were reportedly injured in the violence, with several arrested.
Nagorno-Karabakh, a majority Armenian region in Azerbaijan, has been the subject of a long-standing dispute between the two countries. The region has been occupied by Armenian forces since the early 1990s, with Azerbaijan viewing it as a vital part of its territory.
In a statement, the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed Azerbaijan’s accusations as “baseless” and “provocative,” emphasizing that Armenia’s commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict through international negotiations remains unchanged.
The international community has urged restraint on both sides, citing the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Minsk Group, a joint effort by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United States, the European Union, and Russia, has been attempting to broker a peace deal since the 1990s.
As tensions in the region continue to rise, the international community awaits a new initiative or initiative from the Minsk Group to find a resolution to this longstanding conflict.