The development comes after Azerbaijan completed its military operation in the breakaway region
FILE PHOTO: The building of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic government in Stepanakert © Sputnik / Aram Nersesyan
The authorities of Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh have announced the dissolution of the self-proclaimed republic after a Russian-mediated truce ended the hostilities between Stepanakert and Baku.
Samvel Shahramanyan, the president of the unrecognized republic, issued a decree on Thursday ordering the “dissolution of all state institutions and their branches by January 1, 2024.”
“The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases to exist,” it stated, as quoted by NKR InfoCenter.
The document also says that the region’s inhabitants, including those who have left, should “familiarize themselves with the conditions of reintegration offered by the Republic of Azerbaijan,” and make an independent decision about whether to stay or return to Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to the decree, the dissolution takes place “in connection with the current difficult military-political situation” and is aimed at ensuring the safety of Nagorno-Karabakh residents, while taking into account the Russian-brokered agreement with Baku. The latter allows residents of the breakaway region, including military personnel who lay down their arms, to travel freely, the statement said.
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