Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast

Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
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 1923–1991 →
 
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Flag
Capital Stepanakert
Language(s) Armenian
Government Not specified
History
 - Established July 7, 1923
 - Disestablished November 26, 1991
History of Nagorno-Karabakh

This article is part of a series
Ancient History
Artsakh
Middle Ages
Principality of Khachen
Kingdom of Artsakh
Melikdoms of Karabakh
Modern Era
Karabakh Khanate
Russian Karabakh
Early 20th Century
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
Nagorno-Karabakh War
Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh
 

The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was an autonomous oblast within the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR, mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and created on July 7, 1923. According to Karl R. DeRouen it was created as an enclave so that a narrow strip of land would separate it from Armenia proper.[1] According to Audrey L. Altstadt the oblast's borders were drawn to include Armenian villages and to exclude as much as possible Azerbaijani villages. The resulting district ensured an Armenian majority.[2]

After the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 1987 between the Armenian and Azerbaijan SSRs, it grew into a full-scale war by the end of 1991. On November 26, 1991, the Parliament of the Azerbaijan SSR abolished the autonomous status of the NKAO and administratively split the region between the neighboring rayons of Khojavend, Tartar, Goranboy, Shusha and Kalbajar[3] In response, the majority Armenian population of the region unilaterally declared independence as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, so most of territories of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast remains under the control of the ethnic Armenian forces of Nagorno-Karabakh as result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War. When the Soviet Union dissolved, the Nagorno-Karabakh region was reaffirmed as part of the newly independent Republic of Azerbaijan by the United Nations Security Council. Today, the NKR is not recognized by any state or international government organization, and is de jure part of Azerbaijan.[4]

Administrative divisions

References

  1. ^ Karl R. DeRouen, Uk Heo "Civil wars of the world: major conflicts since World War II, Volume 1", 2007, page 146
  2. ^ Audrey L. Altstadt. The Azerbaijani Turks: power and identity under Russian rule. Hoover Press, 1992. ISBN 0817991824, 9780817991821
  3. ^ Svante Cornell, "Turkey and the Conflict in Nagorno Karabakh: A Delicate Balance", Middle Eastern Studies Journal (Frank Cass Publications, London), Vol 34, No. 1, January 1998, pp. 51-72
  4. ^ 1993 UN Security Council Resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh, U.S. State Department website, accessed February 2007 (Webpage not found when checked)

External links