The Armenian prime minister has celebrated the return of the prisoners at campaign rallies, and opposition figures have accused him of giving up too much in return.
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the first foreign leader to visit Karabakh since the end of last year’s war, in which Turkish backing helped Azerbaijan secure its victory.
From Azerbaijan’s perspective, there are perils to either the reelection of the incumbent prime minister or the return to power of his main rival, former president Robert Kocharyan.
The deal, brokered by Georgia and the United States, is a partial resolution to the most contentious issues between the two sides following last year’s war.
Once Armenia’s democratic hope, Pashinyan is now calling for “vendettas” and to “replace his velvet mandate with a steel one.” And he’s not the only candidate using that kind of language.
Yerevan said there was no point in discussing new transportation routes with Azerbaijan while there was so much tension along their border. Baku’s response was curiously muted. Post-War Report.
The resignation of the foreign minister and two other top MFA officials come amid controversy over a draft agreement on resolving a border crisis with Azerbaijan.
The list of the ruling party, which came to power on promises to stamp out corruption, includes two prominent oligarchs. And two of the opposition parties are putting up former ruling party MPs.
A border commission, including Russian mediation, is in the works. And given the sensitivity over issues of land and territorial concessions, it’s going to have its work cut out. Post-War Report.
Acting prime minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that the two sides are close to an agreement, which reportedly could involve additional territorial concessions.
National security has dominated the rhetoric in the campaign so far, though the opposition has not been very specific on how it would tackle the country’s daunting challenges.
Azerbaijani forces advanced more than three kilometers and crossed Armenia’s border, Yerevan said. Now everyone is looking to Moscow for a reaction. Post-War Report.
The country has taken the rare step of offering the vaccine to anyone, including foreigners, without registration. But the number of takers is still low.
Baku has said it intends to restore the church to its “original” form. They haven’t said what that is, though, and Armenians haven’t been consulted. Our weekly Post-War Report.
After the war, a number of new grassroots initiatives have emerged bringing together Armenians and Azerbaijanis who want to try to build, or rebuild, ties. Post-War Report.
