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.
Following the victory over Armenia, Azerbaijan has thanked Turkey by awarding several multimillion-dollar contracts to companies close to the Turkish president.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The unprecedented White House statement was welcomed by Armenians around the world, and viewed in the Caucasus through the lens of last year’s war with Azerbaijan.
After previously denying it, Azerbaijan now says that Armenia fired Russian-made rockets during last year’s war. And now they’re trying to make things difficult for Moscow.
Activists had been pushing for their government to adopt the landmark international anti-domestic violence agreement. But “big brother” Turkey has made it more difficult.
Azerbaijan has been playing hardball with Armenia over the prisoners it continues to hold. But with a botched POW release that wasn’t, Armenia has weakened its position all by itself.
