Because of what conflict arose in Karabakh. Karabakh conflict: origins, reasons, consequences
Armenian soldiers in positions in Nagorno-Karabakh
The Nagorno-Carbakh conflict has become one of the ethnopolitical conflicts of the second half of the 1980s on the territory of the then still existing USSR. Decay Soviet Union led to large-scale structural shifts in the sphere of ethno national relations. The confrontation between the National Republics and the Union Center, which caused the systemic crisis and the beginning of centrifugal processes, reanimated the solar processes of ethnic and national character. State-legal, territorial, socio-economic, geopolitical interests intertwined into one node. The struggle of some republics against the Union Center in some cases turned out the struggle against autonomy against its republican "metropolis." Such conflicts were, for example, Georgian-Abkhaz, Georgian-Ossetian, Transnistrian conflicts. But the most large-scale and bloody, which turned into the actual war of two independent states was the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO), later the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). In this confrontation, the line of ethnic opposition of the parties immediately arose, and the opposing parties on the ethnic basis were formed: Armenians-Azerbaijanis.
Armenian-Azerbaijani confrontation in Nagorno-Karabakh had a long history. It is worth noting that the territory of Karabakh was attached to the Russian Empire in 1813 as part of the Karabakh Khanate. Interethnic contradictions led to major Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes in 1905-1907 and 1918-1920. In May 1918, in connection with the revolution in Russia, the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic appeared. However, the Armenian population of Karabakh, whose territory entered the ADR, refused to obey the new authorities. The armed confrontation continued until the establishment of Soviet power in this region in 1920, then the parts of the Red Army, together with Azerbaijani troops, were able to suppress Armenian resistance to Karabakh. In 1921, the decision of the Kavburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh was left within the Azerbaijan SSR with the provision of broad autonomy. In 1923, the districts of the Azerbaijan SSR with mainly Armenian population were combined into the autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh (AONK), which since 1937 began to be called the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO). At the same time, the administrative boundaries of autonomy did not coincide with the ethnic one. Armenian leadership from time to time raised the question of the transfer of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia, but in the center it was decided to establish the status quo in the region. Socio-economic tension in Karabakh has surrendered into mass riots in the 1960s. At the same time, the Karabakh Armenians felt disadvantaged in cultural and political rights in the territory of Azerbaijan. However, the Azerbaijani minority both in NKAO and the Armenian SSR (who did not have its own autonomy) put forward counter-discrimination.
Since 1987, the region has increased the dissatisfaction of the Armenian population with its socio-economic situation. Charged to the leadership of the Azerbaijan SSR in preserving the economic backwardness of the region, in the infringement of the rights, culture and identity of the Armenian minority in Azerbaijan. In addition, the existing problems, previously silent, after the coming to the power of Gorbachev quickly became a wealth of wide publicity. At rallies in Yerevan, caused by discontent with the economic crisis, called calls to transfer NKAO to Armenia. Nationalist Armenian organizations, the nascent national movement was heated protests. The new leadership of Armenia was opened by the opposition local nomenclature and the ruling communist regime as a whole. Azerbaijan, in turn, remained one of the most conservative republics of the USSR. Local authorities led by G. Niyev, suppressed all sorts of political dissent and remained to the last faithful center. Unlike Armenia, where most of the party functionaries expressed their readiness to cooperate with the national movement, the Azerbaijani political leadership was able to keep power until 1992 in the fight against the so-called. national democratic movement. However, the leadership of the Azerbaijan SSR, state and law enforcement agencies, which used old levers of influence, were not ready for events in NKAO and Armenia provoked, in turn, mass performances in Azerbaijan, created conditions for the uncontrolled behavior of the crowd. In turn, the Soviet leadership, which was afraid that speeches in Armenia on the accession of NKAO may lead not only to the revision of national-territorial boundaries between the republics, but also can lead to the uncontrolled collapse of the USSR. The requirements of the Karabakh Armenians and the public of Armenia were considered as manifestations of nationalism contrary to the interests of the working people of the Armenian and Azerbaijan SSR.
During the summer of 1987 - Winter 1988. On the territory of the NKAO passed mass protests of Armenians demanding branches from Azerbaijan. In some places, these protests have surrendered into collisions with the police. At the same time, representatives of the Armenian intellectual elite, public, political, cultural figures tried to actively lobby the reunion of Karabakh with Armenia. Signatures were gathered among the population, delegations were sent to Moscow, representatives of the Armenian diaspora abroad were trying to attract the attention of the international public to the aspirations of Armenians to reunification. At the same time, the Azerbaijani leadership, which announced the unacceptability of the revision of the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR, conducted a policy of using familiar levers to return control over the situation. A large delegation of representatives of the leadership of Azerbaijan, a republican party organization was sent to Stepanakert. The group also included leaders of the republican Ministry of Internal Affairs, KGB, prosecutor's office and the Supreme Court. This delegation condemned the "extremist-separatist" moods in the region. In response to these actions in Stepanakert, a mass rally was organized about the reunification of the NKAO and the Armenian SSR. On February 20, 1988, the session of the NCAO Deputies was as follows to the leadership of the Azerbaijan SSR, the Armenian SSR and the USSR with a request to consider and positively resolve the issue of the transfer of NKAO from Azerbaijan to Armenia. However, the Azerbaijani authorities and the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU refused to recognize the requirements of the regional council of NKAO. The central authorities and later stated that the border crossing is unacceptable, and calls for the entry of Karabakh to Armenia were declared the miscarions of "nationalists" and "extremists". Immediately after the appeal of the Armenian majority (Azerbaijani representatives refused to take part in the meeting) of the NCAO Regional Council on the Karabakhi Office from Azerbaijan, a slow slaughtering began to armed conflict. The first reports of acts of violence on interethnic soil in both ethnic communities appeared. The explosion of the rally activity of Armenians caused a response of the Azerbaijani community. It came to clashes with the use of firearms and the participation of law enforcement officers. The first victims of the conflict appeared. In February, a mass strike that lasted with interruptions until December 1989 began in NCAO, 22-23 of February was already in Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan, elemental rallies were held in support of the decision of the Politburo of the CPSU CPSU.
By the turning point in the development of an interethnic conflict, the Armenian pogrom in Sumgait on February 27-29, 1988 according to official data, 26 Armenians and 6 Azerbaijanis died. Similar events occurred in Kirovabada (now Ganja), where the armed crowd of Azerbaijanis attacked the Armenian community. However, compactly resident Armenians managed to repulse, which led to victims on both sides. All this happened with the inaction of the authorities and the rule of law, as some eyewitnesses claimed. As a result of clashes from NKAO, the flows of the Refugees-Azerbaijanis reached. Armenian refugees also appeared after the events in Stepanakert, Kirovabad and Shushe, when the rallies for the integrity of the Azerbaijani SSR have surrendered into inter-ethnic clashes and pogroms. Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes and on the territory of the Armenian SSR began. The reaction of the central authorities was the change of party leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. On May 21, troops were introduced into Stepanakert. According to Azerbaijani sources, the Azerbaijani population was expelled from several cities of the Armenian SSR, in NKAO, as a result of the strike, the obstacles of local Azerbaijanis were repaired, which were not allowed to work. In June-July, the conflict adopted an inter-republican orientation. The Azerbaijan SSR and the Armenian SSR unleashed the so-called "war of laws". The Supreme Presidium of the AzSSR recognized the unacceptable decision of the NKAO Regulation on the exit from Azerbaijan. The Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR agreed to the entry of NKAO to the Armenian SSR. In July, mass strikes began in Armenia in connection with the decision of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee on the territorial integrity of the Azerbaijan SSR. Union management actually faced the Azerbaijan SSR on the issue of conservation of existing borders. After a number of clashes in NKAO, on September 21, 1988, a curfew and a special position were introduced. The rally activity in Armenia and Azerbaijan led to outbreaks of violence against the civilian population and increased the number of refugees who formed two counterflow. In October and the first half of November, the tension increased. Multiple meetings were held in Armenia and Azerbaijan, representatives of the Karabakh Party, who held a radical position on the accession of NKAO to Armenia, defeated the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenian SSR in the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenian SSR. The result of the results of the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Council of the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Council. In November 1988, the accumulated discontent in society based on the results of the Republican authorities policy in relation to the preservation of the NKAO resulted in thousands of rallies in Baku. The death sentence of one of the defendants in the case of the Pogromov in Sumgait Akhmedov, made by the Supreme Court of the USSR, provoked the wave of pogroms in Baku, rented on the entire Azerbaijan, especially in the city with the Armenian population - Kirovabad, Nakhichevan, Hanlar, Shamhor, Sheki, Kazakh, Mink Prone. The army and militia in most cases did not interfere in the events occurring. At the same time, the shelling of border villages in Armenia began. In Yerevan, a special position was also introduced and rallies and manifestations were banned, military equipment and battalions with special weapons were introduced into the streets of the city. At this time, the most massive flow of refugees, caused by violence both in Azerbaijan and in Armenia.
By this time, armed formations began to be created in both republics. In early May 1989, Armenians who lived north of NKAO began to create the first combat units. In the summer of the same year, Armenia introduced the blockade of the Nakhichevan ASSR. As a response, the People's Front of Azerbaijan introduced the economic and transport blockade of Armenia. On December 1, the Armenian SSR and the National Council of Nagorno-Karabakh at the joint meeting adopted a decision on the reunification of NKAO with Armenia. Since the beginning of 1990, armed clashes began - mutual artillery shelling at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. In the deportation of the Azerbaijani forces of Armenians from the Shaumyan and Khanlar regions of Azerbaijan, helicopters and BTR were used for the first time. On January 15, the Presidium of the USSR Suns introduced a state of emergency in the NCAO, in the areas of the Azerbaijan SSR border with it, and on the Line of the USSR State Border on the territory of the Azerbaijan SSR. On January 20, internal troops were introduced in Baku to prevent the capturing of the power of the People's Front of Azerbaijan. This led to clashes, as a result of which up to 140 people died. Armenian militants began to penetrate settlements with the Azerbaijani population, committing acts of violence. Combat clashes of militants with internal troops are frequent. In turn, the divisions of the Azerbaijani Roson took shares on the invasion of the Armenian villages, which led to the death of civilians. Azerbaijani helicopters began to fake Stepanakert.
On March 17, 1991, a All-Union referendum was held on the preservation of the USSR, which supported the leadership of the Azerbaijan SSR. At the same time, the Armenian leadership, who adopted on August 23, 1990, the Declaration on the independence of Armenia, in every way prevented a referendum in the republic. On April 30, the so-called "Ring" operation began, conducted by the forces of the Azerbaijan MIA and the internal troops of the USSR. The purpose of the operation was announced disarmament of the illegal armed formations of Armenians. This operation, however, led to the death of a large number of civilians and deportation of Armenians from 24 settlements On the territory of Azerbaijan. The escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict took place before the collapse of the USSR, the number of clashes grew, the parties used various types of weapons. From December 19 to December 27, the internal troops of the USSR was derived from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. With the collapse of the USSR and the withdrawal of internal troops from the NKAO, the situation in the conflict zone became uncontrollable. The full-scale war of Armenia against Azerbaijan began for the NCAO output from the latter.
As a result of the section of the military property of the Soviet Army, derived from the Transcaucasus, the greatest part of the weapon went to Azerbaijan. On January 6, 1992, the Declaration on Independence of NKAO was adopted. Full-scale fighting began using tanks, helicopters, artillery and aviation. The combat units of the Armenian Armed Forces and Azerbaijani Omon attacked the enemy village, carrying large losses and inflicting civil infrastructure damage. On March 21, a temporary weekly truce was concluded, at the end of which on March 28, the Azerbaijani side took the largest offensive on Stepanakert since the beginning of the year. The attackers used the Grad system. However, the assault on the capital of NKAO ended to no avail, the Azerbaijani forces suffered large losses, the Armenian military took the original positions and discarded the enemy from Stepanakert.
In May, Armenian armed formations attacked Nakhichevan, the territory of Azerbaijani exclave, bordering Armenia, Turkey and Iran. From Azerbaijan, the shelling of the territory of Armenia were made. On June 12, the summer offensive of the Azerbaijani troops began until August 26. As a result of this offensive under the control of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, for a short time, the territory of the former Shaumian and Mardakert districts of NKAO was transferred. But it was the local success of the Azerbaijani Forces. As a result of the counteroffensiveness of the Armenians, the opponent had a strategic height in the Mardakert district, the Azerbaijani offensive itself had already exhausted by mid-July. In the course of combat actions, weapons and specialists were used by the USSR, mainly by the Azerbaijani side, in particular aviation, anti-aircraft installations. In September-October 1992, the Azerbaijani army undertook an unsuccessful attempt to block the Lachin Corridor - a small area of \u200b\u200bthe territory of Azerbaijan, who was located between Armenia and NKAO, which controlled Armenian armed formations. On November 17, the unfolded offensive of the NKR army began to Azerbaijani positions, which made a decisive fracture in the advantage of Armenians. The Azerbaijani side abandoned the offensive operations for a long time.
It is worth noting that from the very beginning of the military phase of the conflict, both sides began to accuse each other in the use of the rows of mercenaries. In many cases, these charges were confirmed. Azerbaijan's Armed Forces fought Afghan Mujahideen, Chechen mercenaries, including famous field commanders Shamil Basayev, Hattab, Salman Raduyev. Turkish, Russian, Iranian and allegedly American instructors also acted in Azerbaijan. Armenian volunteers who came from Middle Eastern countries were fighting on the side of Armenia, in particular from Lebanon and Syria. As part of the forces of both parties also operated former military personnel of the Soviet Army and mercenaries from the former Union republics. Both sides used armament from the warehouses of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Army. In early 1992, Azerbaijan got a squadron of combat helicopters and attack aircraft. In May of the same year, the official transfer of armaments of the 4th Commercial Army began to Azerbaijan: tanks, BTR, BMP, artistors, including Grad. By June 1, the Armenian side got tanks, BTR, BMP and artillery also from the arsenal of the Soviet Army. The Azerbaijani side actively used aircraft and artillery in the bombing of NCAO settlements, the main purpose of which was the outcome of the Armenian population from the territory of autonomy. As a result of the raids and the shelling of civilian objects, a large number of victims among civilians were noted. However, the Armenian air defense is initially a rather weak, managed to resist the Azerbaijani aircraft aviation in connection with the increase in the number of anti-aircraft plants among Armenians. By 1994, the first aircraft appeared as part of Armenian Armed Forces, in particular, through the assistance of Russia as part of military cooperation on the CIS.
After the reflection of the summer offensive of the Azerbaijani troops, the Armenian side moved to active offensive actions. From March to September 1993, Armenian troops as a result of hostilities managed to take a number of settlements of NKAO, controlled by Azerbaijani forces. In August, the Russian envoy Vladimir Kazimirov achieved a temporary cease-fire extended until November. At a meeting with the Russian President B. Yeltsin, the President of Azerbaijan G. Aliyev announced the refusal to solve the conflict by the military. In Moscow, negotiations between the Azerbaijani authorities and representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh took place. However, in October 1993, Azerbaijan broke the truce and attempted an attempt on the south-western section of the NKAO. This offensive was chosen by the Armenians who switched to the counteroffensive on the southern section of the front and by November 1, a number of key areas took part, isolated from Azerbaijan, part of the Zangean, Jabrailian and Kubatlinsky districts. The Armenian army, thus, occupied the Areas of Azerbaijan north and south of directly NKAO.
In January-February, one of the most bloody battles took place at the final stage of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict - the battle for the Omar Pass. This battle began with the offensive in January 1994 of the Azerbaijani forces on the northern part of the front. It is worth noting that the fighting was conducted on an empty territory where there were no civilian population, as well as in hard weather conditions, on high mountains. In early February, the Azerbaijanis approached close to the city of Kelbajar, occupied a year earlier by Armenian forces. However, the initial success of the Azerbaijanis could not be developed. On February 12, Armenian parts were transferred to the counteroffensiveness, and the Azerbaijani forces had to retreat through the Omarsky pass to the initial positions. The losses of Azerbaijanis in this battle amounted to 4 thousand people, Armenians of 2 thousand kelbajar district remained under the control of the defense forces of the NKR.
On April 14, 1994, the Council of Heads of the CIS states on the initiative of Russia and with the direct participation of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia adopted a statement with a clear formulation of the issue of ceasefire as an urgent need to settle in Karabakh.
In April-May, Armenian forces as a result of the offensive on the ter territory forced Azerbaijani troops to retreat. On May 5, 1994, on the initiative of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS, the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, the Federal Assembly and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, a meeting was held, following which representatives of the Governments of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the NKR signed the Bishkek Protocol with a call to stop the fire on the night of May 8 on May 9, 1994 of the year. On May 9, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in Nagorno-Karabakh, Vladimir Kazimirov prepared a "an agreement on an indefinite ceasefire", which the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan M. Mamedov signed on the same day in Baku. On May 10 and 11, "Agreement" was signed by the Minister of Defense of Armenia S. Sargsyan and the commander of the NKR S. Babayan Army. The active phase of the armed confrontation ended.
The conflict was "frozen", according to the terms of the agreements reached, the status quo was preserved on the basis of combat operations. As a result of the war, the actual independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from Azerbaijan and its control over the south-western part of Azerbaijan was proclaimed up to the border with Iran. This includes the so-called "security zone": five adjacent to the NKR regions. At the same time, the five Azerbaijani enclaves are controlled by Armenia. On the other hand, Azerbaijan retained control over 15% of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to various estimates, the losses of the Armenian side are estimated at 5-6 thousand people killed, including among civilians. Azerbaijan lost during the conflict from 4 to 7 thousand people killed, while the bulk of losses falls on military formation.
The Karabakh conflict has become one of the most bloody and large-scale in the region, yielding by the number of equipment used and human losses only by two Chechen wars. As a result of hostilities, strong damage was made by the infrastructure of the NKR and the adjacent areas of Azerbaijan, caused the outcome of refugees, both from Azerbaijan and from Armenia. As a result of the war on the relationship of Azerbaijanis and Armenians, a strong blow was inflicted, the atmosphere of hostility is preserved to this day. Diplomatic relations have not been established between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the armed conflict was conserved. As a result, single cases of combat clashes continue on the distinction lines of the opposing parties and at the present time.
Ivanovo Sergey
On April 2, 2016, the press service of the Armenian Ministry of Defense announced that the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan were transferred to the offensive on the entire section of contact with the army of the defense of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani side reported that the fighting began in response to the shelling of its territory.
The press service of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) stated that the Azerbaijani troops were transferred in the offensive in many areas of the front, using the glorium-caliber artillery, tanks and helicopters. Within a few days, official representatives of Azerbaijan reported a lesson of several strategically important heights and settlements. At several sites of the front, the attacks were repulsed by the Armed Forces of the NKR.
After a few days of fierce battles along the entire front line, military representatives of both sides met to discuss the cease-fire conditions. It was achieved on April 5, although, after this date, the truce was repeatedly broken and the other party. However, in general, the situation at the front began to calm down. The Azerbaijani armed forces have begun to strengthen the positions disheighted from the opponent.
Karabakh conflict - one of the oldest on the expanses former USSR, Nagorno-Karabakh He became a hot spot before the collapse of the country and is in a state of frozen for more than twenty years. Why did he bother with a new force today, what are the forces of the opposing parties and what should be expected in the near future? Can this conflict grow into a full-scale war?
To understand what is happening in this region today, you should make a small excursion in history. Only so you can understand the essence of this war.
Nagorno-Karabakh: Conflict Prehistory
The Karabakh conflict has a very long-standing historical and ethnocultural roots, the situation in this region has significantly aggravated in the last years of the existence of the Soviet regime.
In ancient times, Karabakh was part of the Armenian kingdom, after his decay, these lands became part of the Persian Empire. In 1813, Nagorno-Karabakh was attached to Russia.
Here, the bloody inter-ethnic conflicts did not happen here, the most serious of which took place during the weakening of the metropolis: in 1905 and 1917. After the revolution, three states appeared in the Transcaucasus: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which included Karabakh. However, this fact was absolutely not satisfied with the Armenians, which at the time constituted the majority of the population: the first war began in Karabakh. Armenians won a tactical victory, but suffered a strategic defeat: the Bolsheviks included Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.
In the Soviet period, the world was maintained in the region, the question of the transfer of Karabakh Armenia was periodically raised, but did not find support from the country's leadership. Any manifestations of discontent are strictly suppressed. In 1987, the first collisions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, who lead to human victims begin in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Deputies of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO) are requested to attach them to Armenia.
In 1991, the creation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) is proclaimed and a large-scale war begins with Azerbaijan. The fighting took place until 1994, an aircraft, armored vehicles, heavy artillery used on the front side. On May 12, 1994, an agreement on the cease-fire comes into force, and the Karabakh conflict goes to the step of frozen.
The result of the war was the actual obtaining of NKR independence, as well as the occupation of several areas of Azerbaijan adjacent to the border with Armenia. In fact, in this war, Azerbaijan suffered a crushing defeat, did not achieve the goals and lost part of his original territories. Such a situation was absolutely not satisfied with Baku, who for many years built his domestic policy at the desire of revenge and the return of lost lands.
Alignment of forces at the moment
Last war defeated Armenia and NKR, Azerbaijan lost its territory and was forced to recognize defeat. For many years, the Karabakh conflict was in a frozen state, which was accompanied by periodic shootings on the front line.
However, during this period changed economic situation The opposing countries, today Azerbaijan has a much more serious military potential. During the years of high oil prices, Baku managed to modernize the army, to equip it with the latest weapons. The main supplier of weapons to Azerbaijan has always been Russia (this caused serious irritation at Yerevan), also modern weapons were purchased in Turkey, Israel, Ukraine and even South Africa. Armenia's resources did not allow it to highily strengthen the army with new weapons. In Armenia, and in Russia, many thought that this time the conflict would end in the same way as in 1994 - that is, the flight and defeat the enemy.
If in 2003 Azerbaijan spent 135 million dollars on the armed forces, then in 2018 the costs should exceed 1.7 billion dollars. The peak of military spending Baku fell for 2013, when $ 3.7 billion was sent to military needs. For comparison: the entire state budget of Armenia in 2018 amounted to 2.6 billion dollars.
Today, the total number of Azerbaijan is 67 thousand people (57 thousand people - land forces), another 300 thousand are in reserve. It should be noted that in recent years, the Army of Azerbaijan has been reformed on the Western model, moving to NATO standards.
Azerbaijan's land forces are collected in five buildings, which include 23 brigades. Today, the Azerbaijani army has more than 400 tanks (T-55, T-72 and T-90), and from 2010 to 2014 Russia has delivered 100 new T-90. The number of BTR, BMP and BRM and armorAutomotumes - 961 units. Most of them are products of still Soviet MCC (BMP-1, BMP-2, BTR-69, BTR-70 and MT-LB), but there are both the latest cars of Russian and foreign production (BMP-3, BTR-80A, armored car production Turkey, Israel and South Africa). Part of the Azerbaijani T-72 is modernized by the Israelis.
Azerbaijan has almost 700 units of artillery guns, among which there are both towed and self-propelled artillery, and the reactive artillery is also included. Most of them are obtained by the division of Soviet military property, but there are also newer samples: 18 SAU "Msta-C", 18 SAU 2C31 "Vienna", 18 RSZO "Tornado" and 18 TOS-1A "Suns". Separately, the Israeli RSW Lynx (caliber 300, 166 and 122 mm) should be noted, which in their characteristics are superior (primarily by accuracy) Russian counterparts. In addition, Israel put 155-mm SAU SOLTAM ATMOS Azerbaijan. Most of the towed artillery is represented by Soviet Gaubes D-30.
The anti-tank artillery is mainly represented by the Soviet PTO MT-12 "Rapira", and in service with the Soviet production Soviet production ("Baby", "Competition", "Fagot", "Metis") and foreign production (Israel - Spike, Ukraine - "Scyth "). In 2014, Russia delivered several self-propelled PRK "Chrysanthemum".
Russia has delivered serious sperm equipment to Azerbaijan, which can be used to overcome the reinforced enemy strips.
Also, air defense systems were obtained from Russia: S-300PMU-2 "Favorite" (two divisions) and several "Tor-M2E" batteries. There are old "chills" and about 150 Soviet complexes "Circle", "OSA" and "Strela-10". There is also a division of the SPK-MB and Buk-M1-2, transmitted by Russia and the Division of the PRC Barak 8 Israeli production.
There are operational-tactical complexes "Point-y", which were purchased from Ukraine.
Armenia has a much smaller military potential, which is due to its more modest fraction in the Soviet "inheritance". Yes, and with finances, Yerevan is much worse - there are no oil fields on its territory.
After the cessation of the war in 1994, large funds were allocated from the Armenian state budget to the creation of fortification structures throughout the front line. The total number of land forces of Armenia today is 48 thousand people, another 210 thousand are in reserve. Together with the NKR, the country can set about 70 thousand fighters, which is comparable to the army of Azerbaijan, but the technical equipment of the Armenian SU is clearly inferior to the enemy.
The total number of Armenian tanks is a little more than a hundred units (T-54, T-55 and T-72), armored vehicles - 345, most of them were made at the USSR plants. Armenia has practically no money for the modernization of the army. Russia conveys her old weapons and gives loans to buy weapons (of course, Russian).
Armenian air defense is in service with five S-300PS divisions, there is information that the Armenians support technique in good condition. There are older samples of Soviet equipment: C-200, C-125 and C-75, as well as "scolding". The exact amount is unknown.
Armenian Air Force consists of 15 SU-25 attack aircraft, Mi-24 helicopters (11 pieces) and Mi-8, as well as multipurpose Mi-2.
It should be added that in Armenia (Gyumri) there is a Russian military base, which deployed MiG-29 and Division of SPC S-300V. In the event of an attack on Armenia, according to the CSTO Agreement, Russia should help the ally.
Caucasian knot
Today, the position of Azerbaijan looks much more preferable. The country managed to create modern and very strong armed forces, which was proven in April 2018. It is not entirely clear that there will be further: Armenia is beneficial to preserve the current situation, in fact, it controls about 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan. However, this is not too profitable Baku.
Attention should also be paid to the internal political aspects of April events. After falling prices for oil, Azerbaijan is experiencing an economic crisis, and the most the best way Damage dissatisfied at such time is to unleash the "little victorious war." In Armenia, the business in the economy is traditionally bad. So for the Armenian leadership war, it is also a very appropriate way to refocus the attention of the people.
By the number of armed forces of both parties are approximately comparable, but by their organization the Armenian and NKR army behind the modern armed forces behind decades. Events at the front clearly shown it. The view that the high Armenian martial spirit and the complexity of warping in the mountainous terrain equates everything turned out to be erroneous.
Israeli Lynx RSZO (300 mm caliber and a range of 150 km) are superior to its accuracy and the distance everything was done in the USSR and is produced now in Russia. In a complex with Israeli drones, the Army of Azerbaijan has become an opportunity to apply powerful and deep blows on the objects of the enemy.
Armenians, starting their counteroffensive, and could not knock the opponent from all occupied positions.
With a lot of probability, it can be said that the war will not end. Azerbaijan demands to free areas surrounding Karabakh, but the leadership of Armenia cannot go for it. For him, it will become political suicide. Azerbaijan feels the winner and wants to continue fighting. Baku showed that it has a formidable and combat-ready army that can win.
Armenians evil and confused, they demand to repel the enemy lost territories at any cost. In addition to the myth about the superiority of his own army, another myth crashed: about Russia as a reliable ally. Azerbaijan received the newest Russian weapons all past years, and only old Soviet was supplied to Armenia. In addition, it turned out that Russia does not burn with the desire to fulfill its obligations on the CSTO.
For Moscow, the state of the frozen conflict in the NKR was the ideal situation that allowed their influence on both sides of the conflict. Of course, Yerevan was more dependent on Moscow. Armenia was practically shed surrounded by unfriendly countries, and if this year, opposition supporters will come to power in Georgia, then it may be in complete isolation.
There is another factor - Iran. Last war, he stood on the side of Armenians. But this time the situation can change. A large Azerbaijani diaspora lives in Iran, to ignore the opinion of which the country's leaders cannot.
Recently, negotiations were held in Vienna between the presidents of the US mediation. The ideal solution for Moscow would be an introduction to the conflict zone of their own peacekeepers, it even more strengthened Russian influence in the region. Yerevan will agree to this, but what do you need to offer Baku to support such a step?
The worst development of events for the Kremlin will be the beginning of a full-scale war in the region. Having in the passive of Donbass and Syria, Russia may simply not pull another armed conflict on his periphery.
Video about the Karabakh conflict
If you have any questions - leave them in the comments under the article. We or our visitors will gladly respond to them
It is difficult to believe, but Armenians and Azerbaijanis are killed by decades and hate each other because of a small geographical area with a total area in a little less than four and a half thousand square kilometers. This area is divided into Nagorno, where the majority of the population were Armenians and the plain, where Azerbaijanis prevailed. The peak of the shacks between the peoples came at the time of the collapse of the Russian Empire and civil War. After the Bolsheviks won the victory, and Armenia and Azerbaijan became part of the USSR, the conflict was frozen for many years.Nagorno-Karabakh is a total area in a little less than four and a half thousand square kilometers // Photo: inosmi.ru
By the decision of the Soviet power, Nagorno-Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan. With this, it could not accept the Armenian population for a long time, but it was not solved to resist this decision. All manifestations of nationalism are toughly suppressed. And yet the local population always said that it is part of the USSR, and not the Azerbaijan SSR.
Perestroika and Chardahlau
Even in soviet time In Nagorno-Karabakh, clashes on national soil took place. However, this in the Kremlin did not attach any meaning. After all, nationalism in the USSR was not, and the Soviet citizens were a common people. Perestroika Mikhail Gorbachev with its democratization and publicity dismissed the conflict.At the most controversial territory there were no dramatic events, unlike the village of Chardahlo in the Azerbaijan SSR, where the local party figure decided to change the head of the collective farm. The former chapter of Armenina pointed to the door and prescribed Azerbaijanis instead. It did not suit the residents of Chardahlo. They refused to recognize the new chief, for which they were beaten, and some arrested on false accusations. This situation again did not cause any reaction of the center, but the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh began to be indignant that Azerbaijanis are creating with Armenians. After that, the requirement to join Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia began to sound very loud and persistently.
Position of the authorities and first blood
In the late eighties, Armenian delegations were drawn to Moscow, trying to explain to the center that Nagorno-Karabakh is an invalid Armenian territory, which in a huge mistake was attached to Azerbaijan. Management asked to correct historical injustice and return the region to their homeland. These requests were supported by mass rallies in which the Armenian intelligentsia participated. The center listened carefully, but did not hurry any decisions.
Requests to return Nagorno-Karabakh to their homeland were supported by mass rallies in which the Armenian intelligentsia participated. The center listened carefully, but did not hurry any decisions // Photo: kavkaz-uzel.eu
Meanwhile, in Nagorno-Karabakh, aggressive spirits against a neighbor grew on yeast, especially among young people. Last drop He became the campaign of Azerbaijanis on Stepanakert. His participants sincerely believed that the largest city Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians brutally kill Azerbaijanis, which actually was not close to the truth. The crowd of distraught Avengers met the police cordon from Askeren. During the suppression of the rebellion, two Azerbaijanis died. These events led to mass pogroms in Sumgait - satellite town Baku. Azerbaijani nationalists killed twenty-six Armenians and hundreds caused various injuries. Stop the pogrom only after the introduction of troops to the city. After that, the war became inevitable.
The crisis
The pogrom in Sumgait led to the fact that the Azerbaijanis threw everything htorated and fled from Armenia, fearing death. The same was done by Armenians, the will of the fate-in-law in Azerbaijan. These military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR and the declaration of independence by Azerbaijan and Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh also declared himself a sovereign state, but his independence none of the foreign countries in a hurry to admit.In the ninetie gangs, the open war began in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the score of the victims from dozens moved to hundreds. Karabakh War It was broke out with a new force after the arguments of the USSR ceased the existence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR were derived from the disputed territory. Armed conflict She lasted for three years and was stopped by the signing of a truce agreement. In this war, more than thirty thousand people became victims.
Our days
Despite the truce, the clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh did not stop. Neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan wanted to give up the controversial territory. This situation led to the unusual growth of nationalism. Neutral, and not full of hatred Comment to the neighbor was perceived with suspicion.Karabakh conflict - ethnopolitical conflict in the Transcaucasus between Azerbaijanis and Armenians. The intercommunal conflict having a long-standing historical and cultural roots acquired a new sharpness during the years of perestroika (1987-1988), against the background of a sharp rise in national movements in Armenia and Azerbaijan. By November - December 1988, as noted by A. N. Yamskov, the majority of the inhabitants of both republics were involved, and he actually overshadowed the framework of the local problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, turning into an "open interethnic confrontation", which Saktak earthquake was suspended only . The unpretentiousness of the Soviet leadership to adequate political actions in the situation of the exacerbated interethnic strife, the inconsistency of the measures taken, the declaration of the central authorities to equal degree of guilt of Armenia and Azerbaijan in creating a crisis situation led to the emergence and strengthening of the radical anti-communist opposition in both republics.
In 1991-1994, this confrontation led to large-scale military actions for control over Nagorno-Karabakh and some surrounding territories. In terms of military confrontation, it exceeded only the Chechen conflict, but, as Note Cornell noted, "from all Caucasian conflicts, the Karabakh conflict has the largest strategic and overaconial meaning. This conflict is the only one on the territory of the former Soviet Union, which is directly involved two independent states. Moreover, in the late 1990s, the Karabakh conflict contributed to the formation of groups of states in the Caucasus and around him opposing each other. "
On May 5, 1994, the Bishkek Protocol on the truce and the ceasefire between Armenia and the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on the one hand and Azerbaijan on the other hand were signed.
As written G. V. Starovoitov, "in terms of international law This conflict is an example of contradictions between the two fundamental principles: on the one hand, the rights of the people on self-determination, and on the other hand, the principle of territorial integrity, according to which only a peaceful change in the borders in agreement is possible. "
Through the referendum (December 10, 1991), Nagorno-Karabakh tried to get the right to full independence. The attempt failed, and this region became hostage of antagonistic claims of Armenia and attempts to Azerbaijan to keep power.
The result of full-scale hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh 1991, the beginning of 1992 has become a complete or partial seizure, regular Armenian parts, seven Azerbaijani districts. Following this, combat operations using the most modern weapons systems twisted on the internal Azerbaijan and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Thus, until 1994, Armenian troops occupied 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan, destroyed and plundered 877 settlements, and the number of dead is about 18 thousand people, and more than 50 thousand were wounded and disabled people.
In 1994, with the help of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, as well as the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS in the city of Bishkek, Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan signed the Protocol, on the basis of which an agreement was reached on the cease-fire. Although negotiations regarding the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict were conducted since 1991. The first meeting of representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan took place in 1993, and since 1999, regular meetings of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents are held. Despite this, the "degree" of the war is preserved, because Azerbaijan is trying by all their forces to preserve its former territorial integrity, Armenia insists that it protects the interests of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is not a participant in negotiations as an unrecognized republic.
This three-step conflict has almost old history and, so far, talking about the completion of the third stage, and, therefore, the conflict itself is early. UN Security Council from April to November 1993 were adopted by resolutions. These resolutions called on parties to disarmament and peaceful settlement controversial issues. The result of the war 1987-1991. is the victory of the Armenian side, the actual independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the "freezing" of the conflict. The cruelty of both parties in relation to the population of another nationality, gross violations of human rights during operations, torture, arbitrary arrests, detention. After the defeat of the Azerbaijani side, Armenophobia arose, accompanied by the destruction of monuments of Armenian culture, cemeteries. Losses of both sides, according to different sources there are up to 50,000 people. None of the four UN Security Council resolutions were fully fulfilled, despite the imperative character.
This ethno-territorial conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh has a very interesting composition of the parties. Essentially, this is a clash of two political camps - Armenian and Azerbaijani. In fact, the collision of the three political parties: Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (the interests of Yerevan and Stepanakert had significant differences).
The positions of the parties remain contradictory so far: the NKR wishes to remain a sovereign state, Azerbaijan insists on the return of the territory, referring to the observance of the principle of territorial integrity of the state. Armenia seeks to leave Karabakh under his aegid.
Russia is trying to become a peacemaker in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. But the interests of the Kremlin do not allow to become an independent and impartial arbitration judge in the Middle Eastern Arena. On November 2, 2008, the negotiations of three countries took place in Moscow about the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Russia hopes that Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations will provide stability in the Caucasus.
Russia, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group (the OSCE Street Resolution Group, heading the process of peaceful resolution of the Nagornocarabakh conflict. The purpose of this group is the continuous support of the Forum for the negotiations of the crisis situation on the basis of principles, obligations and OSCE provisions. You can talk about the inefficiency of this group, as they have completed Only one of its feature is a forum for negotiations9), proposed the leading negotiations of Armenia and Azerbaijan the project of the basic principles of conflict resolution - Madrid principles.
By the way, according to the 2010 census in Russia, 1182 thousand Armenians live in Russia, and this is the 6th nation in Russia. All-Russian public OrganizationArounding Armenians of Russia is the Union of Armenians of Russia. If we talk about the goals pursued, it is a multifaceted development and support of Armenians, both in Russia and in Armenia and NKR.
In the area of \u200b\u200bthe Armenian-Azerbaijani confrontation, the most serious clashes have occurred since 1994 - from the moment when the parties agreed on the truce, stopping the hot phase of war for Nagorno-Karabakh.
On the night of April 2, the situation in the Zone of the Karabakh conflict sharply aggravated. "I ordered not to succumb to provocations, but the enemy dismissed the enemy," explained the occurrence of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The Armenian Defense Ministry announced "offensive actions from the Azerbaijani side".
Both sides declared significant losses in the lively strength and armored vehicles at the enemy and the minimum - for their part.
On April 5, the Ministry of Defense of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic reported the achievement of the cease-fire agreement in the conflict zone. However, Armenia and Azerbaijan have repeatedly accused each other in violation of the truce.
Conflict history
On February 20, 1988, the Council of Deputies of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO), preferably populated by Armenians, turned to the leadership of the USSR, Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijan SSR asking for the transfer of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia. The Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU responded with refusal, which led to mass protests in Yerevan and Stepanakert, as well as to pogroms among both the Armenian and Azerbaijani population.
In December 1989, the authorities of the Armenian SSR and NKAO signed a joint decree on the inclusion of the region to Armenia, to which Azerbaijan responded with the artillery shelling of the Karabakh border. In January 1990, the Supreme Council of the USSR declared a state of emergency in the conflict zone.
At the end of April - early May 1991, the Ring Operation was operated in the NCAO forces of Azerbaijan and the Troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. For three weeks of deportation, the Armenian population of 24 Karabakh villages were subjected to, more than 100 people were killed. The forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR and the Soviet Army conducted shares on disarmament of collision participants until August 1991, when the Patch began in Moscow, which led to the collapse of the USSR.
On September 2, 1991, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was proclaimed in Stepanakert. Official Baku recognized this act illegal. During the war between Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and supporting His Armenia, the sides lost from 15 thousand to 25 thousand people, more than 25 thousand were injured, hundreds of thousands of civilians left the place of residence. From April to November 1993, the UN Security Council adopted four resolutions with the requirement of cease-fire in the region.
On May 5, 1994, the three parties signed a truce agreement, as a result of which Azerbaijan actually lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh. Official Baku still considers the region of the occupied territory.
International legal status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
According to the administrative-territorial division of Azerbaijan, the territory of the NKR is part of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In March 2008, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution "Position in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan", which was supported by 39 Member States (the co-chairs of the US Minsk Group of OSCE, Russia and France voted against).
At the moment, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic did not receive recognition from the UN member states and is not its member, in connection with the official documents of the UN member states and the organizations formed in relation to the NKR, some political categories (President, Premier - Minister, elections, government, parliament, flag, coat of arms, capital).
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is recognized as partially recognized states by Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as unrecognized Transnistrian Moldavian Republic.
Eastern conflict
In November 2014, Armenia and Azerbaijan sharply aggravated after the Azerbaijani Military Armenian helicopter Mi-24 in Nagorno-Karabakh. Regular shelling resumed on the contact line, the parties were renewed for the first time since 1994 to accuse each other in the use of large-caliber artillery means of defeat. During the year, the dead and wounded in the conflict zone were repeatedly reported.
On the night of April 2, 2016, large-scale fighting resumed in the conflict zone. Armenian Defense Ministry announced the "offensive actions" of Azerbaijan using tanks, artillery and aviation, Baku reported that the use of force was the response to shelling from mortars and large-caliber machine guns.
On April 3, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan declared the decision to unilaterally suspend military actions. However, in Yerevan, and in Stepanakert reported that the battles continued.
The press secretary of the Armenian Ministry of Defense Armenian Armenian Ohannisyan reported on April 4, that "fierce battles along the entire length of the line of contact of the Karabakh and Azerbaijani forces continue."
Within three days, the sides of the conflict reported on major losses at the enemy (from 100 to 200 killed), but this information was immediately refuted opposing side. According to independent assessments of the UN Office for the coordination of humanitarian issues, 33 people were killed in the conflict zone, more than 200 were injured.
On April 5, the Ministry of Defense of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic reported the achievement of the cease-fire agreement in the conflict zone. Azerbaijan announced the stopping of hostilities. Armenia announced the preparation of a bilateral response document.
How Russia armed Armenia and Azerbaijan
According to the Register of Conventional Weapons of the UN, in 2013, Russia for the first time put heavy weapons in Armenia: 35 tanks, 110 combat armored machines, 50 launchers and 200 missiles to them. In 2014, there were no supplies.
In September 2015, Moscow and Yerevan agreed to grant Armenian loan for $ 200 million for the purchase of Russian weapons in 2015-2017. Starting installations of the Mercha-S-s-sized zenitic rocket complexes "Nelya-C", heavy ripples of TOS-1A, PRGGUN grenade launchers, Dragunov's sniper rifles, Tiger's armored complexes, terrestrial radiotechnical intelligence systems should be supplied for this amount. "Avtobaza M", engineering tools and means of communication, as well as tank sights designed to modernize T-72 tanks and BMP Armenian BCS.
In the period 2010-2014, Azerbaijan concluded contracts for the purchase of 2 divisions of anti-aircraft missile systems C-300PMU-2, several anti-aircraft batteries rocket complexes Tor-2ME, about 100 combat and transport helicopters.
Agreements for procurement of at least 100 T-90s tanks and about 100 units of BMP-3 infantry combat vehicles, 18 self-propelled artillery installations "Msta-C" and so many severe TOS-1A flamethrower systems, terethedral jet systems .
The total cost of the package was estimated at least $ 4 billion. Most of the contracts have already been implemented. For example, in 2015, the Azerbaijani military received the last 6 of the 40 Mi-17B1 helicopters and the last 25 of 100 T-90s tanks (under contracts 2010), as well as 6 of 18 heavy TOS-1A (according to the 2011 Agreement). In 2016, the Russian Federation will continue to supply BTR-82A armored personnel carriers and BMP-3 infantry armored vehicles (in 2015, Azerbaijan received at least 30 units).
Evgeny Kosichev, Elena Fedotova, Dmitry Mulkovnikov
