Groom Davit Simonyan, 24, and bride Shogher Hovsepyan, 25, take photos with family and friends at the Tatik Papik monument, a popular symbol of Nagorno-Karabakh, on April 18, 2015 in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh. Since signing a ceasefire in a war

Nagorno-Karabakh • Brendan Hoffman

Nagorno-Karabakh is a small mountainous territory in the South Caucasus caught in limbo. Officially part of Azerbaijan, it has functioned as a de facto part of Armenia since the two former Soviet republics fought a bloody war over the land as the Soviet Union fell apart. While it has declared itself an independent country, and fields a president, foreign ministry, and military, no other countries recognize it as such.

A 1994 ceasefire that ended the first war was shattered in late September as fighting flared again. Decades of military investment and a strategic alliance with Turkey provided Azerbaijan with a decisive edge, allowing it to recapture much of the territory it previously lost. After six weeks and thousands of deaths, another ceasefire was declared, cementing Azerbaijan's gains and prompting a crisis of confidence in Armenia. A lasting peace seems further away than ever.

 

PROJECTS

Nagorno-Karabakh

By Brendan Hoffman

Nagorno-Karabakh is a small mountainous territory in the South Caucasus caught in limbo. Officially part of Azerbaijan, it has functioned as a de facto part of Armenia since the two former Soviet republics fought a bloody war over the land as the Soviet Union fell apart. While it has declared itself an independent country, and fields a president, foreign ministry, and military, no other countries recognize it as such. 

A 1994 ceasefire brought an end only to official hostilities. In early April 2016 fighting once again erupted for four intense days, killing dozens on each side. In autumn 2020, the war ignited again for 44 days; some five thousand more died, with Azerbaijan reclaiming a large portion of the land it lost in the 90s.

 

 
 
 

Publications

Nagorno-Karabakh: An Isolated Territory in Limbo, Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown