Armenian Prisoners of War (March 29, 2021): https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/03/29/with-armenian-captives-issue-conflict-over-nagorno-karabakh-continues-rankle/
At the time of the article, Azerbaijan refused to return more than four dozen Armenian prisoners. Eventually, some of the prisoners were released in exchange for mine maps in June.[1] Battle occurred in fall of 2020: Azerbaijan forced – back by Turkish drones – regained control of the mountainous region that is part of Azerbaijan but has been government by Armenian populations since a 1994 war for independence.
Armenia has reported they lost 4,000 soldiers in the battle. U.S. officials reported that 52 Armenians were captured and held by Azerbaijan. Armenian officials reported 200. “The government in Baku claims that these detainees were not combatants in the war but entered the disputed territory in late November after the cease-fire and are terrorism suspects, an allegation that Armenia denies” (Ignatius).
President Biden has pushed for the release of detainees. Biden has communicated that mediation between the combatants should fall to Russia’s responsibility. The frustration is that more than 100 days after the end of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian service members and civilians remained in Azerbaijani custody. The Human Rights Watch has alleged that Azerbaijani abused Armenians POWs. There has also been immense destruction and damage to churches and religious artifacts in the area (I have personally seen this on social media like Instagram and Facebook).
This issue gained attention during April when Biden officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. This commemoration was timely following Armenia’s defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Armenia’s Postwar Crisis from CFR Expert (March 25, 2021):
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan triggered the crisis on February 23. How? Suggested on TV that Iskander missibled provided to Armenia by Russia had underperformed in the war. “When a senior military official scoffed at these remarks, Pashinyan fired the official, only to find himself publicly challenged by the chief of the general staff and some forty top military officers, all of whom demanded his resignation” (Bohlen).
The comment about the Russian missiles were not the issue. The bigger issue is Pashinyan’s leadership during the war and “his continued defense of the tripartite cease-fire agreement brokered by Russia. That deal forced Armenia to cede Azerbaijani territory seized almost thirty years ago, after the first war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh” (Bohlen).
Questions to ponder:
What is going to happen? Prolonged instability in Armenian could endanger the truce that was made on November 10th with Azerbaijan. Even with Pashinyan in power, Bohlen believes that his authority has been damaged and opposition to him is already at a high.
Why is Armenian in conflict with Azerbaijan?
The conflict began in 1991 as the Soviet Union was collapsing. The Nagorno-Karabakh region has been disputable for some time. Armenia launched a military operation to take control of that region which had belonged to the Armenian population in earlier times within the Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. During this era, the Armenians won the land and further lead to an exodus of more than 600,000 Azerbaijanis. The effects of this displacement have lasted through today.
Russia maintains a “delicate balance” with Armenian and Azerbaijan. One major takeaway from the conflict in its entirety is the increase in drone warfare. The Azeris were able to maneuver around the Armenians by use of technological warfare.[2]
[1] https://www.politico.eu/article/azerbaijan-armenia-prisoners-war-nagorno-karabakh-landmine-maps-blinken/
[2] https://www.jpost.com/international/nagorno-karabakh-war-one-year-since-armenia-azerbaijans-last-conflict-680403
Map pictured above is courtesy of Bohlen.