#2 The Moscow Times: What Is Russia's Role in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict? Sep. 28, 2020
Moscow has so far taken a cautious stance toward the latest flare-up. Hrayr Badalyan / AP / TASS
Fighting between the ex-Soviet republics over a decades-long territorial dispute threatens to embroil regional players Russia and Turkey. The United States, Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the UN secretary general called for an end to hostilities. — Why are they fighting? Armenia and Azerbaijan have clashed over Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988, when the mountainous region of fewer than 150,000 people declared independence from Azerbaijan. An ensuing war killed 30,000 and displaced hundreds of thousands before ending in a ceasefire in 1994. Violent outbreaks between Armenian and Azeri forces have continued ever since.
The origins of the conflict date back to 1921, when Soviet authorities added the predominantly ethnic Armenian territory to Azerbaijan.
— Which side is Russia backing? Russia..., maintains close economic ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan and has adopted a cautious stance toward the recent flare-ups. However, Armenia is deeper within Moscow’s orbit as a member of Russia-led regional military and economic blocs CSTO and EEU. Azerbaijan is not. Russian support and military guarantees are critical to Armenia, whose budget is overshadowed by Azerbaijan's arms spending. Additionally, Armenia hosts a Russian military base near its second-largest city. |