Armenia has asked the International Court of Justice to order Azerbaijan to end a road blockade that has isolated Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan rejected the claims and accused Armenia of attempting to create leverage in peace talks (AP)
An estimated one hundred thousand people in Nagorno-Karabakh are dealing with shortages in food, medicine, and other essentials as the blockade continues (Politico)
The Azerbaijani foreign ministry denied that the closure had created a humanitarian crisis, stating that the road is open for Russian peacekeepers, the Red Cross, and medical vehicles (BBC)
Russia Denounces Criticism of Peacekeepers
A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said criticism of the Russian peacekeeping contingent along the Lachin Corridor is “unacceptable” and could “cause tangible harm to the process of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization” (Al Jazeera)
Armenia Dissatisfied with Russian Peacekeepers
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the Russian peacekeeping mission is not “fulfilling its obligation to control the Lachin corridor,” adding that the ongoing blockade is creating a humanitarian situation (Al Jazeera)
Azerbaijani Protesters Block Only Road From Armenia to Disputed Territory of Nagorno-Karabakh
The blockade began on December 12 when Azerbaijanis from government-affiliated environmental organizations obstructed traffic along the Lanchin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia; residents at both ends of the corridor have claimed the blockade has disrupted the delivery of food, medical supplies, and other necessities, with reports indicating that Azerbaijan has cut off the supply of gas to the region (Eurasianet)
The United States and European Union have called on Azerbaijan to restore movement along the corridor as the alleged activists face off against the Russian troops tasked with patrolling the route (Bloomberg)
Cross-Border Fire Kills Armenian Soldier
Armenia’s Defense Ministry reported that an Armenian soldier died after being critically wounded in a firefight along the eastern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border; both sides accused the other of instigating the violence amid ongoing peace negotiations (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit Armenia on November 22 to discuss recent border clashes, among other issues; this comes after Russia facilitated a trilateral dialogue with Azerbaijan in late October (Reuters)
Additionally, Azerbaijan announced the arrest of five of its citizens who were allegedly spying for Iran (Al Jazeera)
Armenia, Azerbaijan Agree to Expedite Negotiations
The agreement was announced by U.S. Department of State spokesman Ned Price after talks were held in Washington on Monday (Reuters)
Armenia, Azerbaijan Agree Not to Use Force
Talks in Russia between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended with a verbal confirmation to avoid the use of violence and adhere to earlier agreements to end the fighting, said RIA news agency (Reuters)
European Union Deploys Monitoring Mission to Armenian-Azerbaijani Border
A team of forty experts has been dispatched “to build confidence” by reporting on the conflict between the two countries as they seek to reach a border agreement, the European Council said in a statement (Bloomberg)
Meanwhile, France’s President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia of inciting the recent border clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the Caucasus region (Reuters)
Armenia and Azerbaijan Agree to EU Mission Along Border
The European Council announced this two-month civilian mission to help in the border dispute following a meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, France, and the European Council in Prague on Thursday (Reuters)
In addition, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan separately to express U.S. support for their “positive steps” toward peace (Reuters)
Armenian, Turkish Leaders to Hold Rare Meeting
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are expected to meet in Prague today; their effort to normalize ties is connected to Armenia’s push for a peace deal with Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan (Al-Monitor)
Azerbaijan Proposes Earlier Start For Peace Talks
During negotiations to begin drafting a peace agreement in Geneva, Azerbaijan suggested moving up peace talks scheduled for November to address recent tensions along the border (Reuters)
Armenia Claims Three Killed in Attack by Azerbaijan
Tass agency reported that three Armenian soldiers were killed by shelling from Azerbaijan, citing an Armenian defense ministry statement (Reuters)
Renewed Clashes on Armenian-Azerbaijani Border Breaks Ceasefire
A firefight along the border prompted contradictory statements from Armenian and Azerbaijani officials, who each blamed the other for breaking the fragile ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia last week (Reuters)
Erdogan Believes Peace Agreement Possible Between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Before the UN General Assembly, President Tayyip Erdogan stated his belief that the two countries could reach a comprehensive peace agreement despite the resumption of violence earlier in September that left more than one hundred and seventy soldiers dead (Reuters)
U.S. House Speaker Pelosi Visits Armenia
During a visit to Armenia over the weekend, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House of Representatives will soon take up a resolution condemning “Azerbaijan’s unprovoked military attack” on its border with Armenia last week (CNN)
Armenia and Azerbaijan Reach Truce Following Two Days of Conflict
The countries announced a cease-fire after clashes reportedly killed more than one hundred Armenian and Azerbaijani troops (AFP)
Dozens Killed in Worst Flare-Up of Armenia-Azerbaijan Dispute Since 2020 War
Clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan near the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh prompted international appeals for restraint (Reuters)
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Azerbaijani forces killed forty-nine soldiers, while both countries accused each other of attacking first (New York Times)
Clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh Prompt Calls for Non-Aggression
After both Armenia and Azerbaijan accused the other of launching attacks against military holds in the region, Russia and the European Union (EU) called for all parties to abide by the 2020 Moscow-brokered ceasefire (CNN)
Leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia Meet in Brussels
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Brussels on Sunday to discuss a peace plan for Nagorno-Karabakh (Reuters)
Armenian Protesters Briefly Shut Down Metro in Capital City
Armenian demonstrators protesting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s approach to Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations briefly shut down the metro in Yerevan today; the Armenian police reported that more than 350 protesters were arrested throughout the city (Reuters)
Armenian Authorities Arrest Almost One Hundred Protesters
Police in Armenia’s capital city arrested almost one hundred protesters who were demonstrating against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian; the protesters alleged that Pashinian had made unacceptable concessions to the Azerbaijani government during negotiations over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Armenia Detains Dozens of Protestors
Armenian police detained sixty-one people during continued opposition protests in Yerevan (Reuters)
Thousands of Protestors Demand Armenian Prime Minister’s Resignation
Tens of thousands of protestors rallied in Yerevan, Armenia to demand the Prime Minister’s resignation over his calls for a formal peace agreement with Azerbaijan (Associated Press)
Azerbaijan Calls for Peace Talks, Demands Armenia Drop Territorial Claims
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev called for additional negotiations on a peace treaty with Armenia, but said Armenia would need to renounce all territorial claims on Azerbaijan; Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he would not sign any peace deal without consulting with ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh (Reuters)