Armenia welcomes refugees from Nagorno-Karabak

More than a thousand ethnic Armenian refugees from the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh have begun arriving in Armenia. These refugees are the first to cross the border since Azerbaijani forces captured Nagorno-Karabakh earlier in the week. The Nagorno-Karabakh region, situated in the mountainous South Caucasus region of Eastern Europe and Asia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. However, it has been under the control of ethnic Armenians for three decades.

The BBC's Olga Ivshina and her team visited the region as guests of the Azerbaijani military, providing a glimpse into an area that had been cut off from the outside world due to recent hostilities. They observed the aftermath of fighting, the city of Shusha (a key Azerbaijani stronghold since 2020), and surrendered arms from Karabakh Armenians. Azerbaijan aimed to portray itself as the victim of the conflict, responding to provocations by what they term Karabakh separatists.

However, their tour was restricted, preventing them from exploring further. With over a hundred thousand people trapped in Nagorno-Karabakh, conditions are dire. Olga Ivshina spoke to a resident of Stepanakert, who highlighted the challenges of obtaining food and the uncertainty surrounding the number of casualties.

In recent hours, hundreds of Karabakh Armenians managed to leave the region, with some arriving in Armenia. These refugees included children, the elderly, and the sick. As both sides mourn their losses and new graves are being prepared, the possibility of peace hinges on whether both parties are willing to learn from each other's pain.

Meanwhile, in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, protests have erupted daily since Azerbaijani forces took control of Karabakh. Demonstrators have expressed frustration with what they perceive as a weak government response to the situation. At the same time, there is uncertainty about whether Armenia is prepared to accommodate the influx of refugees.

As tensions continue to escalate, neighboring countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan are advocating for the opening of a corridor between Nakhchivan and western Azerbaijan, which would border Turkey. This move is considered provocative and suggests a desire by Azerbaijan to gain further control over the region.

The situation remains complex, with political, regional, and humanitarian dimensions converging in a volatile region.