Armenia’s Leader Credits Russian Peacekeepers as Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis Eases
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at a government meeting that the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh did not escalate into a full disaster, attributing this outcome to the presence of Russian peacekeepers who have been overseeing the situation. The assertion was relayed by the state news agency TASS, which highlighted Armenia’s perspective on the evolving security dynamics in the region. The Prime Minister underscored that, beginning in 2020, Russia took on the role of guarantor for the safety of residents and for the protection of civil infrastructure in Nagorno-Karabakh, framing it as a stabilizing factor amid ongoing tensions and displacement concerns. [Citation: TASS]
The conversation expanded to discuss post-conflict developments and regional arrangements. Former President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan outlined a plan aimed at resettling former Azerbaijani refugees within Karabakh. He said that an initial group of around 400 people would participate in the first phase of this resettlement effort. The remarks illustrate Baku’s continuing emphasis on repopulating areas reclaimed after the 2020 hostilities, as part of a broader strategy to normalize life in the post-conflict landscape. [Citation: Azerbaijani government communications]
Aliyev further described the Karabakh territory that was returned to Azerbaijan following the 2020 conflict as being in a state of ruin. He characterized the reclaimed land as a significant area, equating its size to roughly that of modern Lebanon, and used this comparison to frame the scale of reconstruction challenges ahead. The statements reflect the perception within Azerbaijan of substantial rebuilding needs and the political stakes tied to the post-war territorial arrangements. [Citation: Azerbaijani public addresses]
Earlier reports noted Armenia’s concerns about Azerbaijan’s actions, with Yerevan accusing Baku of pursuing a slow ethnic cleansing strategy in Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan characterized the sequence of moves by Baku as pushing the region toward a humanitarian crisis, suggesting that population displacement and demographic changes were unfolding under heightened political pressure. The exchange underscores the deep-seated tensions that continue to shape regional diplomacy and humanitarian outcomes in the disputed territory. [Citation: Armenian Foreign Ministry statements]
Across these statements, the international community remains attentive to the evolving security and humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Observers and regional actors are weighing the balance between security guarantees, reconstruction commitments, and the rights and needs of residents who have faced displacement. The dialogue highlights how a volatile mix of military presence, political rhetoric, and resettlement plans can influence the pace and direction of post-conflict normalization in a geopolitically sensitive area. [Citation: regional monitoring entities]