Tbilisi, 3 Apr - Sputnik. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan began in 1988, when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced the exit from the Azerbaijan SSR. Negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict have been conducted since 1992 within the OSCE Minsk Group.

Nagorno-Karabakh - the historical region in the Transcaucasus. The population (as of January 1, 2013) - 146.6 thousand people, the overwhelming majority - Armenians. The administrative center is the city of Stepanakert.

History of the question

Armenian and Azerbaijani sources have different points of view on the history of the region. According to Armenian sources, Nagorno-Karabakh (the ancient Armenian name - Artsakh) at the beginning of the first millennium BC. He entered into the political and cultural sphere of Assyria and Urartu. First mentioned in Krinopysi Sardura II, King Urartu (763-734 BC). In the early Middle Ages, Nagorno-Karabakh was part of Armenia, armenian sources argue. After most of this country in the Middle Ages were captured by Turkey and Persia, the Armenian principalities (Melichesia) of Nagorno-Karabakh preserved a semi-independent status. IN XVII-XVIII centuries Artsakh Princes (Meliki) headed the liberation struggle of the Armenians against the Shah Persia and the Sultan Turkey.

According to Azerbaijani sources, Karabakh is one of the most ancient historical regions of Azerbaijan. According to the official version, the emergence of the term "Karabakh" refers to VII century And interpreted as a combination of Azerbaijani words "Gara" (black) and "Bag" (garden). Among other provinces of Karabakh (Ganja in Azerbaijani terminology) in the XVI century was part of the Sefavid state, later became an independent Karabakh Khanate.

In 1813, in the Gulistan peace treaty, Nagorno-Karabakh became part of Russia.

At the beginning of May 1920, Soviet power was established in Karabakh. On July 7, 1923, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (JSC) in the Azerbaijan SSR with the administrative center in the village of Hankend (now Stepanakert) was formed from the Nagorno-Karabakh region (part of the former Elizavepol province).

How the war began

On February 20, 1988, the extraordinary session of the regional council of NKAO deputies decided "On the petition to the Supreme Sovieties of AzSSR and the Armsman on the transfer of NKAO from the AZSSR to the Armsman."

The refusal of the Union and Azerbaijani authorities summoned the protest of Armenians not only in Nagorno-Karabakh, but also in Yerevan.

On September 2, 1991, a joint session of the Nagorno-Karabakh regional and chaumyan district councils took place in Stepanakert, who adopted a declaration on the proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic within the borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, the Shaumyan district and part of the Khanlar district of the former Azerbaijani SSR.

December 10, 1991, a few days before the official decay Soviet UnionIn Nagorno-Karabakh, a referendum was held, at which the overwhelming majority of the population - 99.89% - expressed full independence from Azerbaijan.

Official Baku recognized this act illegal and abolished existing in soviet years AUTONOMY Karabakh. After this, an armed conflict began, during which Azerbaijan tried to keep Karabakh, and Armenian detachments defended the independence of the region with the support of Yerevan and the Armenian diaspora from other countries.

Victims and losses

The losses of both sides during the Karabakh conflict were, according to various sources, up to 25 thousand people were killed, more than 25 thousand were injured, hundreds of thousands of civilians left the place of residence, more than four thousand people missing the missing.

As a result of the conflict, Azerbaijan lost over Nagorno-Karabakh and - in whole or in part - the seven areas adjacent to it.

Conversation

On May 5, 1994, with the mediation of Russia, Kyrgyzstan and the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS in the capital of Kyrgyzstan Bishkek, representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh signed a protocol to stop fire on the night from 8 to 9 May. This document entered the history of the Karabakh conflict resolution as Bishkek Protocol.

The negotiation process for resolving the conflict began in 1991. Since 1992, negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the conflict under the Minsk Group of Safety and Cooperation Organization in Europe (OSCE) on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the co-chairs of which are US, Russia and France. The group also includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland and Turkey.

Since 1999, regular bilateral and tripartite meetings of the leaders of the two countries are held. The last meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan as part of the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem took place on December 19, 2015 in Bern (Switzerland).

Despite the environment negotiation process, it is known that their basis are the so-called updated Madrid principles transferred to the OSCE Minsk Group to the parties to the conflict on January 15, 2010. The basic principles of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, referred to as Madrid, were presented in November 2007 in the capital of Spain.

Azerbaijan insists on the preservation of its territorial integrity, Armenia protects the interests of the unrecognized republic, since the NKR is not a party to negotiations.

On the geopolitical map of the world, there are enough places that can be marked in red. Here they calm down, the military conflicts begreged again, many of whom have more than a century of history. There are not so many "hot" points on the planet, but still it is better that they do not exist at all. However, unfortunately, one of these places is not so far from the Russian border. We are talking about the Karabakh conflict, briefly tell about which is quite difficult. The very essence of this confrontation of Armenians and Azerbaijanis is rooted at the end of the nineteenth century. And many historians believe that the conflict between these nations exists a much longer time. It is impossible to tell about him without mentioning the Armenian-Azerbaijani war, which took a large number of lives on both sides. The historic chronicle of these events is conducted by Armenians and Azerbaijanis very carefully. Although every nation sees only his right thing in what happened. In the article, we will analyze the causes and consequences of the Karabakh conflict. And also briefly outline today's situation in the region. Several sections of the article We will highlight the Armenian-Azerbaijan War of the late nineteenth - the beginning of the twentieth century, part of which are armed clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Characteristics of military conflict

Historians often argue that the causes of many wars and armed conflict are misunderstanding among the mixed in the composition of the local population. In the same way, the Armenian-Azerbaijani war can be described in 1918-1920. Historians call it ethnic conflict, but the main reason for the broken war is seen in territorial disputes. They were the most relevant in those places where Armenians and Azerbaijanis were historically got on the same territories. Peak military clashes fell at the end of the First World War. Relative stability in the region, the authorities managed to achieve only after the entry of the republics in the Soviet Union.

The first Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic did not enter direct clashes among themselves. Therefore, the Armenian-Azerbaijani war had some similarity with partisan resistance. The main activities occurred at the disputed territories, where the republics were supported by the militia detachments created by their fellow citizens.

For all the time, the Armenian-Azerbaijani war of 1918-1920 lasted, the highest and active actions took place in Karabakh and Nakhichevan. All this was accompanied by a real harsh, which eventually caused the demographic crisis in the region. The most heavy pages in history this conflict Armenians and Azerbaijanis call:

• March massacre;
• armenian massacre in Baku;
• Shushinskaya massacre.

It should be noted that the young Soviet and Georgian governments tried to provide intermediary services in the Armenian-Azerbaijani war. However, such an approach did not have any action and did not become a guarantor of stabilization of the situation in the region. It was possible to solve the problem only after the Red Army ranked controversial territories, which led to the overthrow of the ruling regime in both republics. However, in some regions, the fire of war was only slightly fit and flared up yet. Speaking about it, we mean the Karabakh conflict, the consequences of which our contemporaries cannot fully appreciate.

Background of military action

From the most long time, tense relations were noted in the disputed territories between the people of Armenia and the people of Azerbaijan. The Karabakh conflict has become just a continuation of a long and dramatic story, unfolding for several centuries.

Religious and cultural differences between the two peoples often considered the reason that led to an armed collision. However, the real cause of the Armenian-Azerbaijani War (in 1991 she broke out with new powers) There was a territorial question.

In 1905, the first mass riots began in Baku, which resulted in armed conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. Gradually, he began to flow to other regions of the Transcaucasus. Everywhere, where ethnic composition It was mixed, regular clashes took place, which were precursors of the future war. Its triggering mechanism can be called the October Revolution.

From the seventeenth year of the last century, the situation in the Transcaucasia was completely destabilized, and the hidden conflict moved to the open war, which took many lives.

A year after the overthrow of the revolution, serious changes occurred at the once unified territory. Initially, independence was proclaimed in the Transcaucasus, but the new state lasted only a few months. It is historically natural that it broke up into three independent republics:

• Georgian Democratic Republic;
• The Republic of Armenia (Karabakh conflict very seriously struck the Armenians);
• Azerbaijani Democratic Republic.

Despite this division, in Zangezure and Karabakh, who became part of Azerbaijan, lived a lot of Armenian population. They categorically refused to obey the new authorities and even created organized armed resistance. This is partly and spawned the Karabakh conflict (we briefly consider it a little later).

The purpose of Armenians living in the voiced territories was to enter into the Republic of Armenia. Armed clashes between the disparate Armenian detachments and the troops of Azerbaijan were repeated regularly. But for any final decision, both parties could not come.

In turn, there was a similar situation. It entered the Erivan province, densely populated by Muslims. They resisted the entry into the republic and received material support from Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The eighteenth-nineteenth years of the last century were for military conflict the initial stage, when the formation of opposing camps and opposition groups took place.

The most important events for the war occurred in several regions almost simultaneously. Therefore, we will consider the war through the prism of armed clashes in these areas.

Nakhichevan. Muslim resistance

The Mudrosorian truce, signed in the eighteenth year of the last century and marked the defeat immediately changed the alignment of forces in the Transcaucasia. Her troops, previously introduced into the Transcaucasian region, were forced to hastily leave him. The liberated territories after several months of independent existence were decided to introduce into the Republic of Armenia. However, it was done without consent local residentsMost of which were Azerbaijani Muslims. They began to resist, especially since the Turkish military supported this opposition. Soldiers and officers in a minor number were transferred to the territory new Republic Azerbaijan.

Her authorities supported their compatriots and made an attempt to separate the controversial regions. One of the Azerbaijani leaders even announced Nakhichevan and a few other areas closest to him with an independent Arak Republic. A similar outcome was enulged by bloody clashes, to which the Muslim population of the self-proclaimed republic was ready. Support for the Turkish army was very useful and, according to some forecasts, Armenian government troops would be broken. Serious clashes managed to avoid thanks to the intervention of Britain. Through its efforts, Governor-General was formed on declared independent territories.

For several months of the nineteenth year, under the British protectorate, disputed territories managed to restore peaceful life. A telegraph message with other countries was gradually improved, the railway canvas was repaired and several trains were beaten. However, British troops could not remain in these territories for a long time. After peace talks The parties came to the Agreement with the Armenian authorities: the British left the area of \u200b\u200bNakhichevan, and Armenian military units entered there fully on these lands.

This solution led to the indignation of Azerbaijani Muslims. Military conflict flashed with a new force. Robberies, houses and Muslim shrines were burned everywhere. In all districts close to Nakhichevan, fights thundered and minor clashes. Azerbaijanis created their detachments and performed under British and Turkish flags.

As a result of the battles, Armenians almost completely lost control over Nakhichevan. The surviving Armenians were forced to leave their homes and run to Zangezore.

Causes and consequences of the Karabakh conflict. Historical reference

This region does not boast of stability so far. Despite the fact that theoretically, the decision of the Karabakh conflict was found in the last century, in reality it did not become a real output from the current situation. And with their roots, it goes in distant times.

If we talk about the history of Nagorno-Karabakh, I want to stop in the fourth century to our era. It was then that these territories became part of the Armenian kingdom. In the future, they became part of the six centuries geographically entered one of its provinces. In the future, these areas have not once changed their belonging. They were governed by Albanians, Arabs, again naturally, the territory with such history as a distinguishing feature of the population has a distinctive feature. This has become one of the reasons for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

For a better understanding of the situation, it must be said that at the very beginning of the twentieth century in this region there were already clashes between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. From 1905 to 1907, the conflict periodically gave themselves about himself a short-term armed skirmis among the local population. But the October Revolution became the point of reference of the new turn in this conflict.

Karabakh in the first quarter of the twentieth century

In 1918-1920, the Karabakh conflict broke out with a new force. The reason was the proclamation of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic. It was necessary to enter Nagorno-Karabakh with a large number of Armenian population. It did not adopt a new government and began to resist him, including armed.

In the summer of 1918, Armenians residing in these territories convened the first congress and elected their own government. Knowing this, the Azerbaijani authorities took advantage of the help of Turkish troops and began to gradually suppress the resistance of the Armenian population. The first were attacked by Armenians Baku, the bloody massacre in this city became a lesson for many other territories.

By the end of the year, the situation was far from normal. The collisions between the Armenians and Muslims continued, chaos reigned everywhere, robbery and robbery were widespread. The situation was complicated by the fact that refugees from other regions of the Transcaucasus began to flow into the region. According to the preliminary estimates of the British, about forty thousand Armenians disappeared in Karabakh.

The intermediate decision of the Karabakh conflict British, who quite confidently felt in these territories, were seen in the transfer of this region under the management of Azerbaijan. Such an approach could not not shock Armenians who considered the British government to their ally and an assistant in regulating the situation. They did not agree with the proposal to keep the decision of the conflict for the Parisian peace conference and appointed their representative in Karabakh.

Attempts to solve the conflict

The Georgian authorities offered his help in stabilizing the situation in the region. They organized a conference where plenipotentiary delegates from both young republics arrived. However, the settlement of the Karabakh conflict was impossible due to a different approach to his decision.

Armenian authorities proposed to be guided by ethnic characteristics. Historically, these territories belonged to Armenians, so their claims for Nagorno-Karabakh had grounds. However, Azerbaijan brought indisputable arguments in favor of an economic approach to the decision of the destinies of the region. It is separated from Armenia in the mountains and is not in any way related to the state geographically.

After prolonged disputes, the parties did not come to compromise. Therefore, the conference was considered to be failed.

Furious conflict

After an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan introduced the economic blockade of these territories. He was supported by British and Americans, but even they were forced to recognize such measures extremely cruel, as they led to hunger among the local population.

Gradually, Azerbaijanis increased their military presence in controversial territories. Periodic armed clashes did not overgrow in a full-fledged war only thanks to representatives from other countries. But it could not continue for a long time.

On the fate of the Kurds in the Armenian-Azerbaijan War in official reports of that period was not always mentioned. But they took an active part in conflict, entering specialized equestrian detachments.

In early 1920, a decision was made to recognize controversial territories for Azerbaijan at the Paris Peace Conference. Despite the nominal solution to the issue, the situation has not stabilized. Robbery and missing continued, the bloody ethnic cleansing, carrying the lives of whole settlements, was frequent.

Armenian uprising

Solutions Paris Conference led to the relative world. But in the current situation, he was only calm before the storm. And she sank in the winter of 1920.

Against the background of the newly aggravated national massacre, the Azerbaijani government demanded unconditional subordination of the Armenian population. To this end, the Assembly was convened, whose delegates worked until the first numbers of March. However, they also did not come to one. Some performed only for the economic association with Azerbaijan, and others refused any contact with the authorities of the republic.

Despite the established truce, the Governor-General, delivered by the Azerbaijan Republican Government to manage the region, gradually began to push the military contingent here. In parallel, he introduced the mass of the rules limiting the Armenians in movements, and compiled a plan for the destruction of their settlements.

All this only aggravated the situation and led to the beginning of the uprising of the Armenian population on March 23, 1920. Armed groups attacked several settlements at the same time. But it turned out to achieve a noticeable result in one of them. It was not possible to keep the city rebels: in the first days of April, he was returned to the government of the Governor's General.

The failure did not stop the Armenian population, and the solar military conflict resumed on the territory of Karabakh with a new force. During April, settlements passed from one hands to others, the forces of opponents were equal, and the stress every day was only intensified.

At the end of the month, Azerbaijan has occurred, which radically changed the situation and the ratio of forces in the region. Over the next six months, Soviet troops entrenched in the republic and entered Karabakh. Most of the Armenians switched to their side. Those officers who did not fold the weapons were shot.

Subtotals

Initially, the right to him was fixed behind Armenia, however, a little later, the introduction of Nagorno-Karabakh was the final decision to Azerbaijan as autonomy. However, such a result did not satisfy any of the parties. Periodically there were minor conflicts provoked by the Armenian, then the Azerbaijani population. Each of the peoples considered himself stipulated in the rights, and the question of the transfer of the region under the authorities of Armenia was raised repeatedly.

The situation only externally seemed stable, which was proven in the late eighties - the beginning of the nineties of the last century, when they again started talking about the Karabakh conflict (1988).

Resumption of conflict

Until the end of the eighties, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remained conditionally stable. Conversations about changing the status of autonomy periodically conducted, but it was done in very narrow circles. Politics Mikhail Gorbachev influenced the mood in the region: the dissatisfaction of the Armenian population in its position increased. The people began to gather on rallies, they sounded words about the intentional containment of the development of the region and prohibit the resumption of links with Armenia. During this period, the nationalist movement was activated, whose leaders were told about the dismissive attitude of the authorities to Armenian culture and traditions. Increasingly sounded appeals to the Soviet government with calls for the exit of autonomy from Azerbaijan.

The ideas of reunion with Armenia leaked in printed publications. In the republic itself, the population actively supported new trends that negatively affected the authority of the leadership. Trying to keep the folk speeches, the Communist Party rapidly lost its position. Tensions in the region grew, which inevitably led to the next turn of the Karabakh conflict.

By 1988, the first clashes between the Armenian and Azerbaijani population were registered. The impetus to them was the dismissal in one of the villages of the collective farm - Armenian. Mass riots were suspended, but in parallel in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, the collection of signatures in favor of the merger was launched. With this initiative, the group of delegates was sent to Moscow.

In the winter of 1988, refugees from Armenia began to arrive in the region. They talked about the oppression of the Azerbaijani people in Armenian territories, which added tensions in and so a difficult situation. Gradually, the population of Azerbaijan was divided into two opposing groups. Some believed that Nagorno-Karabakh finally should be part of Armenia, while the separatist trends were traced in unfolding events.

At the end of February, People's Deputies-Armenians voted for appealing to the Supreme Council of the USSR with a request to consider the painful question with Karabakh. The deputies-Azerbaijanis refused to vote and demonstratively left the meeting room. The conflict gradually went out of control. Many feared bloody clashes among the local population. And they did not make them wait.

On February 22, it was hardly possible to dilute two groups of people - from Agdam and Askeran. In both settlements Pretty strong opposition groups have formed, which have a weapon in their arsenal. It can be said that this collision has become a signal to the beginning of this War.

In the first days of March, the wave of strikes swept in Nagorno-Karabakh. In the future, people still will not resort to such a way to pay attention. In parallel, people who support the decision on the impossibility of revising the Status of Karabakh began to be published on the streets of Azerbaijani cities. The most popular were similar processions in Baku.

Armenian authorities tried to restrain the pressure of the people, who increasingly advocated the union with the controversial areas. In the republic, several official groups collecting signatures in support of the Karabakh Armenians and conducting explanatory work on this issue in the masses are even formed. Moscow, despite numerous appeals from the Armenian population, continued to adhere to the decision on the former status of Karabakh. However, it was encouraged by representatives of this autonomy promises to establish cultural relations with Armenia and providing a number of sending to the local population. Unfortunately, such semi-dimensions could not satisfy both sides.

There were rumors about the oppression of certain nationalities, people went to the streets, many of them had a weapon. The situation finally outlined due to control in the recent days of February. At this time, the bloody pogroms of Armenian quarters occurred in Sumgait. For two days law enforcement agencies Could not restore order. The official reports did not pay reliable information about the number of victims. The authorities still hoped to hide the real state of affairs. However, the Azerbaijanis were tuned to carry out mass pogroms, destroying the Armenian population. It was hardly possible to prevent the repetition of the situation with Sumgait in Kirovobad.

In the summer of 1988, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan came to a new level. The republics began to use in the confrontation conditionally "legitimate" methods. These include a partial economic blockade and the adoption of laws on Nagorno-Karabakh without consideration of opinions. opposite side.

Armenian-Azerbaijan War 1991-1994

Until 1994, the situation in the region was extremely difficult. In Yerevan was introduced soviet Group Forces, in some cities, including Baku, the authorities have established a curfew. Folk unrest were often poured into mass violes, to stop which was not even for the military contingent. At the Armenian-Azerbaijani border were the norm of artillery shelling. Conflict Persecution B. full-scale war between both republics.

In 1991, he was proclaimed by the republic, which caused another round of hostilities. On the fronts used armored vehicles, aviation and artillery. Victims on both sides only provoked the holding of regular military operations.

Let's sum up

Today, the causes and consequences of the Karabakh conflict (in brief presentation) You can find in any school textbook on history. After all, he is an example of a frozen situation that has not found its final decision.

In 1994, the warring parties concluded an agreement on the intermediate result of the conflict, it is possible to consider the official change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the loss of several Azerbaijani territories, which previously belonged to the border. Naturally, Azerbaijan himself considered a military conflict not solved, but only frozen. Therefore, in 2016, he began shelling the territories adjacent to Karabakh.

Today, the situation threatens to grow again into a full-fledged military conflict, because the Armenians do not want to return to their neighbors of the Earth, attached several years ago. Russian government Performs for a truce and seeks to leave a conflict in a frozen state. However, many analysts believe that this is impossible, and sooner or later, the situation in the region will again become uncontrollable.

Prehistory of the Armenian-Azerbaijani War. 1905 year

The conflict between the Armenians of Christians and Azerbaijanis Muslims has deep roots. There are not only religious, but also wider, cultural differences. By the beginning of the XX century there were no clear boundaries between armenian territories and Azerbaijani. Everything belonged to one empire. Two people settled "inside the territories" of another people, that is, the situation was developing when, for example, the village of Azerbaijanis was first going, then Armenians, then Azerbaijanis again. "Inside the territories" are used in quotes, as these territories have belonged to the Russian Empire by the end of 1917. No one just took care of the peaceful division of land so that everyone has their own country. As a result, the survey is still happening, although not with such a heat. Typical history in the territories former colonies: Empire is important "efficiency", and not the life of peoples. It is appropriate to some extent to recall the Middle East: inadequate borders as a symbol " effective management»Empire. Next - more similarities.

Cossack patrol near the burned oilfields in Baku, 1905

The first clashes in the 20th century occurred just when the imperial center fell down - in 1905. In February 1905, the massacre in Baku and in Nakhichevan (border with the current Armenia territory). Then the rumor was spread in Baku teahouses that Armenians want to attack Muslims to the Shiite holiday, any funeral of victims of custom murders turned into a demonstration. The situation was mounted. Then the Armenian group shot working-Azerbaijanis. Here, the pogroms broke out.

Conflict Conflict At the end of the XIX century

If you deepen in the background, we will find several reasons for the conflict in the last decades of the XIX century. After Russia has joined the Transcaucasus, the empire applied to these territories the same practice as its European possessions. In particular, non-Christians could take no more than a third of the places in the organs local governments. Initially, this measure was directed against the Jews, but in the Transcaucasus turned against Muslims. As a result, most places in the meetings occupied Armenians.

Further, Russian empire He tried to rely on Armenians as conductors of his power in the region (Christians). However, this only developed a sense of exclusivity from the Armenian nobility, which went wrong with the objectives of the empire. More and more Armenians are remembered by the Great Armenian Kingdom. It will become more likely to not only think about it, but also to write, when the governor and politics in the Transcaucasus will replace. Grigory Golitsyn, appointed in 1886, will support Muslims: the number of government-Armenians will strongly reduce, and Azerbaijanis will come to their place. Golitsyn will see the danger in Armenians, as they are the same Jews - it was written in the reports to St. Petersburg. Armenian schools will be closed, children will receive in Russian sample, the history and geography of Armenia will be excluded from school programs. Armenian nationalists, in particular the Dashnaktsutun party, will stand on the terror path.

It is noteworthy that representatives of the empire, in general, were inactive. The Bolsheviks later saw the reason for the massacre in the fact that the imperial authorities intentionally blew up a more loyal Muslim Azerbaijani population and revolutionary-tuned Armenian.

Armenian-Azerbaijan War 1918-1920

Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1919-1920

As already noted, the story around the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict reminds how they fought in the Middle East. Only on smaller spaces, very close and no less confusing. Azerbaijan sought to reach the borders of the friendly Turkey and take the territory populated by Azerbaijanis, under its control. The main activities unfolded on Karabakh, Zangezure and in Nakhichevan. Everything in the direction of Azerbaijan to the border with Turkey. Armenians also wanted to take control of all territories inhabited by Armenians.

Azerbaijani artillery in Karabakh

During the war, the mutual hatred of the neighbors reached such an extent that both sides destroyed the settlements of enemies. The locality in the combat zones, according to foreigners, did not just be detected - there simply nothing left. Both sides have expelled the enemy peoples, shot, destroyed villages, turned the obtained territories in purely Armenian or Azerbaijani territories.

Armenians in Azerbaijan are lowered or populated by Azerbaijanis and Kurds. In the Shemakhinsky district, 17,000 Armenians were killed in 24 villages, in the Nukhinsky district - 20 thousand Armenians in 20 villages. A similar picture was observed in Agdam and Ganja. In Armenia, Azerbaijanis populated areas also remained without their original inhabitants. Dashnaki, members of the party "Dashnaktsutun" and controlled troops, "cleared" from Azerbaijanis Novobayazetsky, Erivansky, Echmiadzinsky and the Sharuro-Daralagise counties.

Karabakh Permistry Commission, 1918

Antena does something (the Bolsheviks won)

In view of the inaction for understandable reasons of the Russian authorities in this direction to resolve the situation around the conflict at the most borders Ottoman Empire Entered the British with the Americans. And at first everything went favorably for Armenians, they even called the British allies. The winners in the Great War were able to beat off Western Armenia on the papers - in 1920 the Sevra Agreement was signed, denoting the section of Turkey. The incarnation in the reality of papers was prevented by the coming to the merchants in Turkey. They did not ratify the contract signed by the Sultan Government.

British in Baku

In addition to the Sevra Treaty and held a year before the Sevra of the Paris Conference (there, for example, the United States was given the mandate in the Transcaucasus in the spirit of those that were established in the Middle East), it was necessary to note the permanent mediation of the British in the negotiations, their attempts to get sides. But, apparently, because of some goals in Paris, the British conducted more trade-money politics than the Armenian indignation caused. The latter considered themselves the "small ally" of Britain. In general, the efforts of the Entente to establish peace in the region passed in vain. And not even due to the fact that the Bolsheviks came and all silenced by the power of the Red Army. Simply, apparently, such deep hatred with papers and diplomats is not smoothed. This is visible today.

These days thirty years ago, in 1988, events began to occur in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, the substantive perennial conflict, which is now called as the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Despite the length of years, the events of that period are still subject to close interest and the object of fierce discussions.

About how the conflict developed and as under these conditions managed to ensure control over the operational situation, on April 4, General Vladislav Safonov and Kamil Mamedov told in the multimedia press center "Sputnik Azerbaijan".

As noted in the Press release of the Caucasus Center for the Caucasus Center, prepared on the basis of Sputnik's materials, Azerbaijan, with the personal participation of Vladislav Safonov and Kamily Mamedov in Karabakh, managed to ensure relative stability and avoid large bloodshed in started stage conflict up to the collapse of the USSR.

The event was attended by the first commandant of the Special State District of the NKAO (NKO) General Major General Vladislav Safonov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs for Police and Operational Work (in 1981-1989) Major Major Mamedov, as well as director Caucasus Center, Senior Researcher, Institute of Law and Human Rights of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Rizvan Huseynov.

The first commandant of the area of \u200b\u200bthe Special Region of the NCAO was Major General Vladislav Safonov, now living in Russia. He held this position from May 1988 to December 1990. With the personal participation of Safonov in a very complex setting, it was possible to provide relative stability and avoid large bloodshed. From the very beginning of the conflict in 1988, General Major Kamil Mamedov was also sent to Karabakh, who, being a high-ranking officer, made a great contribution to the protection of Azerbaijani land from the Armenian occupation.

V.Safonov revealed the details of the meeting in Nagorno-Karabakh with a deputy of the State Duma of the second convocation Galina Starovoyna, which called him "Karabakh Pinochet."

I spark, led to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, became the approaching collapse of the USSR, said V.Safonov. According to him, everyone believes that Karabakh was a test landfill on the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"It was practiced on Karabakh, withstand power or not. Everything that happened there is because of the powerlessness not only the authorities of the Soviet Union, but also of the Republican authorities," Safonov said.

Major General Vladislav Safonov also spoke about the situation reigned in Karabakh at the very beginning of the conflict. I spark, led to the worship of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, became the approaching collapse of the USSR. According to him, until December 1990, Hankendi (former Stepanakert) and nearby territories were cleared of all gangs, operations were carried out on the seizure of weapons, foreign uniforms.

"When in Stepanakert (Hankendi - Ed.) Called Congress national economyThe territory was free for everyone. Of all areas of Azerbaijan, people went there, watched. I was afraid that the order could be broken there, but the territory was free, "Safonov said.

The general noted that the approaching collapse of the USSR served as an outbreak for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: "Karabakh was a kind of test zone, where it was tested if the state would be replaced by three presidents. In Karabakh, the chairman of the KGB was also replaced. Evgeny Voiko became. When reinforcements were sent from Baku, we tried to settle everything. "

"Five People's Deputies from the Armsman, including Z. Balayan, conducted work on violation of the order, I regularly received complaints and letters to them. At our request it was decided to isolation. The group" Alpha "was the corresponding list. We sat and waited When the chapter agrees, but the order never arrived, "said Major General.

In turn, Major General Kamil Mamedov noted that the Karabakh events began on February 12, 1988: "We could never imagine that such a situation could develop. Baku was always a hospitable city. Here they lived Armenians and Georgians, and Azerbaijanis , and the Jews, and Russians. Never divided anyone by nationalities. Each nation believed in his God, but submitted to the law. " Kamil Mamedov, in turn, noted that the pain of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will continue until we decide this question completely.

According to him, the events in Karabakh began on February 12, 1988, since then over 30 years has passed since then: "We were told that the main reason for the Karabakh branch is that there is a very low standard of living. This was interested in separatist forces. But We have documents that prove that the standard of living in Karabakh was much higher than in Azerbaijan or Armenia as a whole. "

The general said that he arrived in Karabakh in the first days of conflict - February 13, 1988. On the square between the district and the register gathered on this day the crowd of about two hundred and three hundred people. And all chant "Miazum". Required disconnections from Azerbaijan and Reunification with Armenia.

"I didn't understand everything. We were not ready for such a situation. I then said in Baku that the Armenian population of Karabakh was tuned hostile, they demand a" reunification "with Armenia. And the reason for this, according to them, is the low standard of living in Karabakh. It was the main argument, which was then restored the Armenian side, "he said.

Mamedov also during a press conference showed a number of documents, cutting from newspapers dedicated to the Karabakh events. In addition, Major General acquainted journalists and with a card withdrawn in those years in the Armenian prisoner of war.

On this map of "Great Armenia" from the sea to the sea, "there is a long-standing dream of Armenian nationalists -" Armenia from the sea to the sea ", which includes Tbilisi, and Baku, and many other lands.

"On a small area in the center of Hankendi, 200-300 Armenian separatists chant the slogan" Miazum "demanding to attach the NKAO to the Armsman. I reported to the situation in Baku about the difficult situation here and was ready through I had to resolve the issue on the root in the subordination of the Militian special process. I have developed a plan for the arrest of all instigators of the rally and other separatists in Hankendi, but from Baku, the second secretary of the Central Committee of the CP Azerbaijan, V.Kukovalov ordered me to not apply the power and threatened to give me to the tribunal, if I decide it. He argued that the center himself will decide this The question is peaceful, but this did not happen, and there was no chance to crush Armenian separatism in the bud, "the memories of K. Mamedov shared.

Further, the word took the word, General V. Safonov, who added to what was said that in Karabakh at that time the population was about 167 thousand people, among which only 20% were Azerbaijanis. And the standard of living in Karabakh was very good. But the fact is that it is most of these 20% of the Azerbaijanis who were there, there lived not in Hankendi itself, but beyond him, in villages. According to him, these people had very difficult conditions. It was an almost primitive lifestyle. He said that people lived almost in dugouts, so koby and benishchenski that it shocked visitors.

"Therefore, afterwards, I took the leaders to these villages to show how poor Azerbaijanis live. In order for them with their own eyes, who in the Nagorno-Karabakh beggar, Mutalibov came there even three times," said Safonov.

The Russian general told reporters about the terrible Karabakh events, as well as why he left his post of commandant in Karabakh. The upper echelons of the Soviet and Azerbaijani authorities did not accept right solution According to the situation in Shushe, Vladislav Safonov said. He told that he left Karabakh on December 12, 1990. According to him, until 1991, the territory of Hankendi and other adjacent territories were mainly cleared of Armenian bandforms. And no military and provocative performances were not allowed there.

"We have carried out operations to open the scrims with weapons and ammunition, the local population has seized armament and military uniform clothes. Among all this was foreign weapons, "he said.

The general also said that Viktor Polyaniko, who then headed the Committee of Special Directorate and, according to Safonov, was not sufficiently estimated in Azerbaijan, conducted a republican scale event in Hankendi. There was held, for example, the congress of workers agriculture, railway transport and so on. That is, from all areas of Azerbaijan came to Hankendi. According to him, the coming people went everywhere: "It was a big headache for me, since I was afraid of provocations. Well, and there was everything interesting to the coming people, they went everywhere, watched the situation. So the territory was absolutely free , everyone could move freely. "

According to Safonov, Yerevan Emissars were also sent to the Karabakh at that time. Among which the People's Deputies from Karabakh were, among whom Zorii Balayan, who conducted work there on the decomposition of an existing building and order. The general said that these people wrote complaints on the commandant, according to which he was twice later to report to the college of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. And explain who contributed to nationalism, inciting, incitement and bloodshed.

Safonov, answering the questions of journalists about why he was called the "Gala" or "Iron General" in Karabakh, he said that they were so called because he did not try to smash and in a difficult atmosphere performed what was prescribed by law and charters. That is, it is clear to follow what was put to commandants. "Some tried to play someone somewhere. I strictly followed the law. Strictly asked for the implementation of the instructions and, regardless of the political color, which was presented, I performed what was prescribed, and most importantly, prescribed by the Constitution. Indiction, unity of territories In each republic, and in general, the Soviet Union is an unbreakable thing. And no matter how they tried to historically justify that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs not to Azerbaijan, but I did not add attention to this, "the general stressed.

Safonov also said that at the request of him and his team of deputy chairman of the KGB of the USSR, it was decided to isolation of persons engaged in explicit anti-Soviet activities. To do this, the Alpha Group even arrived in Karabakh.

"We were waiting for three or four days, not allowing any leakage about our plans. Waited when consent to this operation will be launched from above. Consent did not come," he said.

According to the general, his dismissal was associated both with the presence of a large number of worships and so that one in the field is not a warrior. He told how before leaving Karabakh in December 1990, he made a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan. During his speech, Safonov brought to the attention of the listeners, all intelligence data on how the Armenian side is being prepared, which they have unmobilized formations, what their arms and equipment they have.

"I gave all complete reconnaissance at this meeting, which also attended the then the president of the country of Ayaz Mutalibov. But I also told that the Azerbaijani side is not preparing for resistance at all," he stressed.

The general in his speech at the conference also touched Shushi. According to him, then he and his team were active supporters that Azerbaijanis are refugees from Yerevan, located in Baku, they got the land in these territories. And they called on to assist these people, so that they could build houses and equip life. At the same time, according to Safonov, they performed and ensure that protection was organized there. But this for those who arrived in Shush, there were no families, there were no additional formations. Since then the Minister of Internal Affairs Mamed Asadov relied on the newly created OMON troops.

"He assured that all the questions will be solved. And then I warned that they would not help there anywhere, that these guys were cannon meat. But in the upper echelons there was no other decision. And it was not possible. And further eventsFistened after my departure, showed that on one patriotism and desire nothing could not be done. Need professional training", I concluded Safonov.

The conference ended with the speech of the director of the Caucasus Center of the Caucasus Rizvan Guseynov, who recalled that these days were two years from the day of April 2016. According to him, in those days of the Azerbaijani army, a certain success was achieved. Some territories of Azerbaijan were liberated from occupation.

"The Azerbaijani army conducted a large-scale offensive with new forces. If in the 90s there was completely different training, now we saw the synthesis of old military school With a new, "he said.

R.Guseynov noted that foreign experts, including Russian military specialists, noted that the April fighting showed a high martial spirit of the Azerbaijani army, a courage of ordinary soldiers and officers. Also, April battles allowed to pay attention to some shortcomings and weak points in the action field. April events have changed both the negotiation process and the philosophy of understanding the Armenian side of what their "Miazum" turned around after thirty years later, - concluded Huseynov.

Nagorno-Karabakh - region in Transcaucasia, in the eastern part of Armenian Highlands. Eighty percent of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh - Armenians.

Armed conflict of Armenia with Azerbaijan around Nagorno-Karabakh flared up in the early 90s of the last century. Active martialctions 1991-1994 led to numerous victims and destruction, about 1 million inhabitants became refugees.

1987 - 1988

The region has increased discontent with the Armenian population with its socio-economic situation. In October, the protest against incidents with the Armenian population of the village of Chardahlo was held in Yerevan. On December 1, several dozen protested residents were beaten and detained by the police, in connection with which the victims turned to the USSR Prosecutor's Office.

In the same period, a massive collection of signatures was carried out in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia as a demand for the transfer of Nagorno-Karabakh to the Armenian SSR.
The delegation of the Karabakh Armenians gave signatures, letters and requirements for the reception office of the CPSU in Moscow.

February 13, 1988

In Stepanakert, the first protest demonstration was held on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh. Its participants require the accession of Nagorno-Karabakh to the Armenian SSR.

February 20, 1988

The extraordinary session of NKAO deputies at the request of the Armenian deputies appealed to the Supreme Sovieties of the Armenian SSR, the Azerbaijan SSR and the USSR with a request to consider and positively resolve the issue of the transfer of NCAO from Azerbaijan to Armenia. Deputies-Azerbaijanis refused to participate in the voting.

February 22, 1988

The Armenian village Askeran in the NKAO territory there was a clash using firearms between Azerbaijanis, police cordons put on their way, and the local population.

February 22-23, 1988

The first rallies were held in Baku and other cities of the Azerbaijan SSR in support of the decision of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee on the inadmissibility of the revision of the existing national territorial structure. In Armenia, in the meantime, the movement of support for the Armenian population of the NKAO has grown.

February 26, 1988

In Yerevan, a mass rally took place in supporting the transfer of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian SSR.

February 27-29, 1988

Pogroms in Sumgait, accompanied by mass violence against the Armenian population, robbery, murders, arson and destroying property.

June 15, 1988

June 17, 1988

The Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR said that the decision of this issue could not enter into the competence of the Armenian SSR and found the transfer of NKAO from the AZSSR to the Armenian SSR impossible.

June 21, 1988

At the session of the regional council of the NKAO, the issue of exit from the Azerbaijan SSR again was again nominated.

July 18, 1988

The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR decides that Karabakh remains part of Azerbaijan.

September 21, 1988

Moscow announces the introduction of a military situation in NKAO.

August 1989

Azerbaijan begins the economic blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. Tens of thousands of people leave their homes.

January 13-20, 1990

Armenian pogroms in Baku.

april 1991

The divisions of the Soviet troops and riot police began "Ring Operation", officially aimed at disarming the militants in the Armenian village of Chaydend (Gethashen).

December 19, 1991

January 26, 1992

The first serious defeat of the Azerbaijani army.
Dozens of soldiers killed during the attack on the village of Dashalta (Karinac).

February 25-26, 1992

Hundreds of Azerbaijanis were killed as a result of the assault by Armenians of Khojaly.

June 12, 1992

The offensive of the Azerbaijani troops. Under the control of the military takes Shaumyanovsky district.

May 1994.

On May 5, 1994, in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, with the mediation of Russia and the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the CIS concluded
Agreement on the ceasefire from May 12, 1994 in the Karabakh conflict region. Moreover, the truce regime is complied without interfering
Peacemakers and the participation of third countries.

Sources:

• Human Rights Watch.
• Reuters.
• Web Site Of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Office in Washington Sumgait.info
• CHRONOLOGY OF THE CONFLICT PREPARED IN AUGUST OF 1990 by CIA
• Chronology Prepared by The "Memorial" Society (Russia)