Table of Contents
Introduction
The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh has existed for a long time. The 1988 referendum in Armenia to secede from Shia-dominated Azerbaijan laid the groundwork for the current humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. Conflict erupted from the referendum and persisted until 1994. But during fighting, drones and heavy weaponry continued to be used in deadly incidents.
Intense gunfire at the line of separation occurred in 2016 as a result of the ongoing hostilities. 2020 saw an intensification of the conflict, leading to Azerbaijan’s occupation of seven districts near Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia mediated a cease-fire for a conflict that claimed 170 lives and left numerous others injured on November 10.
The Russian-brokered peace was not maintained when, in December 2022, Azerbaijan blockaded the Lachin Corridor, which links Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.
On September 20, 2023, Azerbaijan lifted the blockade, forcing Armenians to evacuate Nagorno-Karabakh. 1,20,000 residents of Nagorno-Karabakh are at risk of starvation, shelling, and violations of their human rights due to the blockade. As a result, the article’s main focus will be on current human rights violations, which include everything from the suspension of basic supplies to the abuses of human rights committed by Azeri forces.
Rupture of Rationing Systems
The rationing system broke down as a result of the stoppage of goods transportation. According to reports, a family was only allowed to have one packet of bread because there wasn’t enough of other necessities. Since food and medication were scarce due to the protracted blockade, there have also been documented cases of starvation deaths during the siege.
As a result of the shortages, chronic illnesses as well as conditions linked to malnutrition and protein deficiencies spread.
A death from chronic malnutrition has also been reported in the town of Stepanakert as a result of the siege. Long lines of people waiting for hours in front of the bakery to receive supplies of necessities was another effect of the blockade.
Rupture of Rationing Systems
Shelling incidents have also been documented by the blockade. According to reports, shelling has occurred in the resort town of Goris, which is close to the Armenian border. The locals were forced to relocate due to the shelling, and Russian peacekeepers are now guiding them to a nearby airport. A free pass from starvation was not a guarantee despite the airport being safe from shelling.
Many were forced to eat grass while hundreds of others were forced to sleep in fields without any roof over their heads. The population eventually found itself at the airport without food for days. In order to survive, the people had to cut wood for bonfires.
In addition, thousands of people were forced from their homes by the attacks, forcing them to seek refuge in forests. A family in one of the cases ran into the woods to escape the heavy shelling. The U.N. peacekeeping forces found their disfigured bodies a few days later while conducting search operations.
Revival of Barter Systems and Disruption to Basic Supplies
The ancient barter system has been brought back to life by Azerbaijan’s blockade. While the supermarkets were closed for days, each member participated in the barter system. The supermarket racks in the town of Stepenakart went empty for months, indicating the existence of such a system.
Cattle slaughtered to meet long-term sustenance standards has been linked to the resurgence of the barter system. Due to the blockade, non-governmental organisations that use drones to deliver food are now involved.
The physical blockade also included a disruption in the supply of electricity and internet access. According to reports, there was damage to the internet and electricity connections that crossed the Lachin corridor, which allowed for widespread blackouts throughout Nagorno-Karabakh.
Petroleum flow was also restricted by the curfew. People are now using donkeys, horses, and cattle as modes of transportation as a result of these policies. This required bringing food supplies, such as oil, sugar, and mineral water, from the cities using horses and cattle. The other villagers then received the food supplies.
Excessive Measures by Occupation Forces
There was a strong militarization of the area. The Azeri forces arrested hundreds of people as a result of the militarization. Charges of terrorism were used in the arrests to target the local leaders of Nagorno Karabakh. The International Red Cross was the only organisation allowed visits to prison by the Azeri authorities (ICRC).
Homicide and sexual assault cases were also included in the militarization of Nagorno Karabakh. In one of the incidents, women were sexually assaulted by Azeri forces, who then posted the video online.
Numerous young people also lost their lives as a result of the extreme brutality. The fact that the forces in this instance kept their food supplies to themselves raises questions about the role of the Russian peacekeepers. These incidents incited the local populace to raid their barracks in quest of food.
Flow of Refugees and Displacement
Hundreds of families have been forced from their homes, where they spent the majority of their lives, as a result of the blockade being lifted. The everyday lives of the Armenian families in the blockaded territory were disrupted, and they were forced to flee by walking long distances on the highways for several days. After relocating to the neighbouring towns and cities, the refugees left the following day via buses and cars.
Legal Implications: International Criminal Code and Blockade
The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) former chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, was drawn to the tactics of the blockade and the instigation of starvation and malnourishment. There is still a “reasonable basis,” according to Ocampo, for Azerbaijan to have carried out genocide against the ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani officials have stated that the Ocampo report rejected their claims, citing factual inaccuracies.
Geopolitics and Recent Developments
Geopolitics in the region involves not only regional powers such as Russia, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, but also European and American powers.
As long as Russia declines to stand up for its ally, Armenia, its influence in the area will erode. During the conflict, the Western powers, led by the United States, were faced with a moral conundrum regarding the provision of humanitarian aid to Armenia and the maintenance of energy supplies from Azerbaijan.
But in a recent development, the European Union (EU) and other Western nations applauded Armenia and Azerbaijan’s decision to swap prisoners of war in December 2023. The joint statement by Armenia, which retracted its opposition to Azerbaijan’s bid to host the COP 29 Summit and placed a focus on measures to foster mutual trust and confidence, is another indication of the normalization of relations.
Conclusion
As a result, the blockade imposed on the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh illustrates how protracted conflicts have an impact on everyday men and women in addition to determining winners and losers. In summary, the conflict surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh is a reflection of desperation brought on by Armenia’s turbulent past and a dangerous neighbourhood dominated by rival nations and motivated by geopolitical concerns above all else while human rights come in second.
