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Nagorno-Karabakh Photogallery: No Progress Toward Peace

With hundreds killed, the October 10 Moscow-brokered cessation of hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia and ethnic Armenian separatist forces over Azerbaijan’s breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding Armenian-occupied territories ended almost as soon as it had begun. Nothing suggests that any peacemaking can now have lasting consequences, one Russian analyst told Current Time.

After over two weeks of military conflict, ending the fighting immediately “is practically impossible,” commented Aleksei Malashenko, research director at Berlin’s non-profit Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute. The necessary “inertia” does not exist, he said: Azerbaijan claims that it has regained pieces of territory it lost during its 1992-1994 war with Armenia and Karabakhi separatists, while Armenia and its Karabakhi allies have no interest in ceding any ground to Azerbaijan.

“So far, it’s not known at which place a dot can be placed” to define who holds what territory, added Malashenko.

On October 14, the Russian Defense Ministry called on both Armenia and Azerbaijan to uphold their October 10 ceasefire agreement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has proposed that Russian observers be sent to the conflict zone if the two countries agree – a proposal that recollects former Russian observer missions to two other South Caucasus conflicts, breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia. Neither of those missions prevented war between Georgia and Russia from erupting in 2008.

As yet, no clear plan appears to exist for how Azerbaijan would peacefully reintegrate Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions even if it did regain control of them.

“Even if, let’s suppose, Azerbaijan will be able to massively take control of the lost territories, even in this case, the foundation of the conflict does not change,” said Thomas de Waal, author of Black Garden: Armenia And Azerbaijan Through Peace And War and a senior fellow with the Carnegie Europe think tank.

But, worry Armenian and Azerbaijani analysts, its dimensions could.

On October 14, Azerbaijan acknowledged striking military equipment located in eastern Armenia, on the border with the Armenian-occupied region of Kelbajar, recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan. Under the terms of an agreement with Armenia, Moscow, which maintains an army base in the northwestern Armenian town of Gyumri, not far from the Turkish border, has pledged to defend Armenia’s security.

As yet, though, it has given no sign of wanting direct military involvement in the conflict.

“Russia supports only itself,” said Malashenko.
An unexploded, Russian-made BM-30 Smerch rocket is seen on October 12, 2020 in the outskirts of Stepanakert, known to Azerbaijanis as Khankendi, the main town in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Though Russia is a co-chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe group coordinating negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it has sold weapons  to both sides of the conflict.
1 An unexploded, Russian-made BM-30 Smerch rocket is seen on October 12, 2020 in the outskirts of Stepanakert, known to Azerbaijanis as Khankendi, the main town in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Though Russia is a co-chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe group coordinating negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it has sold weapons  to both sides of the conflict.
On October 12, residents of the western Azerbaijani town of Shamkir carry the coffins of Anar Aliyev and his wife, Nurcin Aliyeva, who were killed in an attack on the nearby city of Ganja, a metropolitan area of a few hundred thousand people. As of October 13, some 42 Azerbaijani civilians had been killed and 206 people injured by the fighting with Armenian and Karabakhi forces, according to the Azerbaijani government. It has not announced the number of military casualties. 
2 On October 12, residents of the western Azerbaijani town of Shamkir carry the coffins of Anar Aliyev and his wife, Nurcin Aliyeva, who were killed in an attack on the nearby city of Ganja, a metropolitan area of a few hundred thousand people. As of October 13, some 42 Azerbaijani civilians had been killed and 206 people injured by the fighting with Armenian and Karabakhi forces, according to the Azerbaijani government. It has not announced the number of military casualties. 
Unexploded cluster bomblets collected after recent shelling during the military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh are seen in the outskirts of Stepanakert (Khankendi) on October 12, 2020. Neither Armenia, nor Azerbaijan has signed the 2008 United Nations Convention on Cluster Munitions that bans the use of these devices. 
3 Unexploded cluster bomblets collected after recent shelling during the military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh are seen in the outskirts of Stepanakert (Khankendi) on October 12, 2020. Neither Armenia, nor Azerbaijan has signed the 2008 United Nations Convention on Cluster Munitions that bans the use of these devices. 
During an October 10 funeral in Yerevan's Yerablur military cemetery, relatives respond to the death of Armenian soldier Vazgen Aslanian, one of 542 Armenian armed forces personnel killed since fighting with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh resumed on September 27.  
4 During an October 10 funeral in Yerevan's Yerablur military cemetery, relatives respond to the death of Armenian soldier Vazgen Aslanian, one of 542 Armenian armed forces personnel killed since fighting with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh resumed on September 27.

 
One day after a Russia-brokered ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan went into effect on October 10, 2020, residents of the Azerbaijani city of Ganja watch as rescuers search for victims or survivors of a rocket strike. Although it lies outside of the Karabakh conflict zone, Ganja, which houses the Azerbaijani Air Force, has come under steady attack recently. 
5 One day after a Russia-brokered ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan went into effect on October 10, 2020, residents of the Azerbaijani city of Ganja watch as rescuers search for victims or survivors of a rocket strike. Although it lies outside of the Karabakh conflict zone, Ganja, which houses the Azerbaijani Air Force, has come under steady attack recently. 
Women take refuge in a bomb shelter in Nagorno-Karabakh's main town of Stepanakert (Khankendi) on October 8, 2020. Aside from hitting civilian buildings in the town, shelling by Azerbaijani forces has periodically disrupted the town's electricity supplies. Nagorno-Karabakh human rights ombudsman Artak Beglaryan has reported 31 civilian deaths and hundreds wounded, according to the Associated Press. 
6 Women take refuge in a bomb shelter in Nagorno-Karabakh's main town of Stepanakert (Khankendi) on October 8, 2020. Aside from hitting civilian buildings in the town, shelling by Azerbaijani forces has periodically disrupted the town's electricity supplies. Nagorno-Karabakh human rights ombudsman Artak Beglaryan has reported 31 civilian deaths and hundreds wounded, according to the Associated Press. 
Child refugees from the Nagorno-Karabakh region seen on October 8 in the Armenian town of Dilijan, roughly 130 kilometers west of the Azerbaijani border. Some 150 Karabakh residents have been living in five Dilijan guesthouses since the start of the month. 
7 Child refugees from the Nagorno-Karabakh region seen on October 8 in the Armenian town of Dilijan, roughly 130 kilometers west of the Azerbaijani border. Some 150 Karabakh residents have been living in five Dilijan guesthouses since the start of the month. 
Five-year-old Bahtiyar Elnur, who was injured during a blast, plays with his sister, Sehla, in the Azerbaijani city of Ganja on October 11, 2020.
8 Five-year-old Bahtiyar Elnur, who was injured during a blast, plays with his sister, Sehla, in the Azerbaijani city of Ganja on October 11, 2020.
Arkady Grigorian stands on the roof of an RV waving Armenian flags as thousands of American-Armenian protesters march in front of Turkey's consulate in Los Angeles, California on October 11.  Southern California is estimated to contain the world's largest Armenian diaspora. 
9 Arkady Grigorian stands on the roof of an RV waving Armenian flags as thousands of American-Armenian protesters march in front of Turkey's consulate in Los Angeles, California on October 11.  Southern California is estimated to contain the world's largest Armenian diaspora. 
With his face painted in the colors of the Azerbaijani flag, Yusuf, a 6-year-old boy from Azerbaijan, takes part in a protest against Armenia in Istanbul, Turkey on October 4, 2020.  Turkey, Azerbaijan's cultural kin and closest strategic partner, has supported Baku's calls for the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani regions. 
10 With his face painted in the colors of the Azerbaijani flag, Yusuf, a 6-year-old boy from Azerbaijan, takes part in a protest against Armenia in Istanbul, Turkey on October 4, 2020.  Turkey, Azerbaijan's cultural kin and closest strategic partner, has supported Baku's calls for the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani regions. 
Azerbaijani army officials claim these tanks, photographed on October 5, 2020 in the southwestern Azerbaijani town of Beylagan, were seized during fighting with Armenia and Karabakhi separatist forces. Located just north of Iran, Beylagan borders on the region of Fuzuli, occupied by the Armenian army since 1993. 
11 Azerbaijani army officials claim these tanks, photographed on October 5, 2020 in the southwestern Azerbaijani town of Beylagan, were seized during fighting with Armenia and Karabakhi separatist forces. Located just north of Iran, Beylagan borders on the region of Fuzuli, occupied by the Armenian army since 1993. 
In this photo from the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Azerbaijani soldiers place an Azerbaijani flag on a sign for a road leading to the Karabakhi towns of Hadrut and Martuni (Khojavend). The photo was taken in Azerbaijan's southwestern Jabrayil region, one of seven territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh that have been occupied by Armenian forces since the two countries' 1992-1994 war.  
12 In this photo from the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Azerbaijani soldiers place an Azerbaijani flag on a sign for a road leading to the Karabakhi towns of Hadrut and Martuni (Khojavend). The photo was taken in Azerbaijan's southwestern Jabrayil region, one of seven territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh that have been occupied by Armenian forces since the two countries' 1992-1994 war.  
An elderly man stands in front of a destroyed house after shelling on the main Karabakhi town of Stepanakert (Khankendi) on October 7, 2020. For many of Karabakh's residents, the fighting is a repeat of the violence they experienced in the early 1990s, when sporadic fighting between Azerbaijanis, Armenians, and Armenia-backed Karabakhis led to full-scale war.  
13 An elderly man stands in front of a destroyed house after shelling on the main Karabakhi town of Stepanakert (Khankendi) on October 7, 2020. For many of Karabakh's residents, the fighting is a repeat of the violence they experienced in the early 1990s, when sporadic fighting between Azerbaijanis, Armenians, and Armenia-backed Karabakhis led to full-scale war.  
A woman knits in a hotel in the Armenian town of Goris that now accommodates people who fled fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Goris is located about 40 minutes away from the so-called Lachin Corridor, a narrow strip of territory, now held by Armenian forces, that connects Karabakh with Armenia. 
14 A woman knits in a hotel in the Armenian town of Goris that now accommodates people who fled fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Goris is located about 40 minutes away from the so-called Lachin Corridor, a narrow strip of territory, now held by Armenian forces, that connects Karabakh with Armenia. 
Khatira Celilova walks in the kitchen of her destroyed apartment in the Azerbaijani town of Tartar  following an October 10, 2020 ceasefire in the fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding Armenian-occupied territories. Residents had evacuated the town, located just to the east of Nagorno-Karabakh, after heavy shelling. 
15 Khatira Celilova walks in the kitchen of her destroyed apartment in the Azerbaijani town of Tartar  following an October 10, 2020 ceasefire in the fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding Armenian-occupied territories. Residents had evacuated the town, located just to the east of Nagorno-Karabakh, after heavy shelling. 
Azerbaijanis in the city of Ganja load belongings into a truck next to a house damaged by recent shelling. For many, this is a familiar scene: During the 1988-1994 conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, some 1 million people, both ethnic Azerbaijanis and ethnic Armenians, were forced to leave their homes in Karabakh and elsewhere in Azerbaijan as well as Armenia. Many of these displaced Azerbaijani migrants now live in Ganja. 
16 Azerbaijanis in the city of Ganja load belongings into a truck next to a house damaged by recent shelling. For many, this is a familiar scene: During the 1988-1994 conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, some 1 million people, both ethnic Azerbaijanis and ethnic Armenians, were forced to leave their homes in Karabakh and elsewhere in Azerbaijan as well as Armenia. Many of these displaced Azerbaijani migrants now live in Ganja. 
A priest inside the damaged Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, a 19th-century Armenian Apostolic church in the Karabakhi town of Shushi, called Shusha in Azerbaijani.  
17 A priest inside the damaged Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, a 19th-century Armenian Apostolic church in the Karabakhi town of Shushi, called Shusha in Azerbaijani.  
The 19th-century Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque in the Karabakhi town of Shushi, known to Azerbaijanis as Shusha. The Shi'i mosque, seen here in 2011, was abandoned after ethnic Armenian forces took control of the hilltop town in 1992. It has been undergoing restoration with assistance from Iran -- a project that Baku rejects as illegitimate.  The building has not been reported damaged during the most recent fighting over Karabakh. 
18 The 19th-century Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque in the Karabakhi town of Shushi, known to Azerbaijanis as Shusha. The Shi'i mosque, seen here in 2011, was abandoned after ethnic Armenian forces took control of the hilltop town in 1992. It has been undergoing restoration with assistance from Iran -- a project that Baku rejects as illegitimate.  The building has not been reported damaged during the most recent fighting over Karabakh. 
In this photo from the Armenian government, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, right, attends an October 6, 2020 meeting with army commanders in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. A teenager during the 1988-1994 Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, Pashinian, unlike his predecessor, former Prime Minister and President Serzh Sarkisian, a Karabakhi native and commander of the region's fighters during the initial conflict with Azerbaijan, has no firsthand military experience in the region. 
19 In this photo from the Armenian government, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, right, attends an October 6, 2020 meeting with army commanders in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. A teenager during the 1988-1994 Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, Pashinian, unlike his predecessor, former Prime Minister and President Serzh Sarkisian, a Karabakhi native and commander of the region's fighters during the initial conflict with Azerbaijan, has no firsthand military experience in the region. 
A bomb squad secures unexploded submunitions from a cluster bomb that hit a remote area of Azerbaijan near the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) crude oil pipeline. The BTC pipeline is a 1,768-kilometer-long conduit, operated by BP, that exports millions of barrels of Azerbaijani, Kazakh, and Turkmen crude to foreign markets via Georgia and Turkey.   
20 A bomb squad secures unexploded submunitions from a cluster bomb that hit a remote area of Azerbaijan near the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) crude oil pipeline. The BTC pipeline is a 1,768-kilometer-long conduit, operated by BP, that exports millions of barrels of Azerbaijani, Kazakh, and Turkmen crude to foreign markets via Georgia and Turkey. 


 

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