Thousands rally in Armenia against PM

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

Thousands of Armenians protested in Yerevan against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan‘s decision to return territory to Azerbaijan, a move seen as a concession to the long-time rival.

Details:

The controversy follows Armenia‘s recent return of four border villages to Azerbaijan, a decision defended by Pashinyan as a peace effort following two wars over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Armenia- Azerbaijan conflict:

Nagorno-Karabakh, known as Artsakh by Armenians, is a landlocked mountainous area in the Caucasus region (the transcontinental region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea).
- It is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but its inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Armenians.
- They have their own government which has enjoyed close links to Armenia‘s but has not been officially recognised by Armenia or any other country.
The conflict dates back to the late 1980s when the region declared its independence from Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union collapsed.
- The first war erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory, which ended with a ceasefire in 1994, leaving Nagorno-Karabakh and some surrounding areas under Armenian control.
- The ceasefire was frequently violated by both sides, and several attempts to negotiate a peaceful settlement failed.
In 2020, Azerbaijan launched the Second Karabakh War, winning a resounding victory and retaking seven surrounding districts and about a third of Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Russia brokered a peace deal after the Second Karabakh War in 2020 and provided for up to 1,960 Russian peacekeepers stationed in the region.

Azerbaijan:

Azerbaijan is a country in Asia that is bordered by Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Iran.
- The east of the country is bordered by the Caspian Sea.
- Much of the north and west is covered by the Caucasus Mountains.
Capital city: Baku.
Azerbaijan is abundant in oil and natural gas.
Yanar Dag, a famous site in Azerbaijan, has a natural eternal fire fueled by seeping natural gases, burning for over 65 years along the Caspian Sea. This unique phenomenon aligns with Azerbaijan’s nickname, “The Land of Fire.”

Armenia

A landlocked country in the Caucasus with Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, and Azerbaijan to the east.
Capital: Yerevan.
Armenia is a mountainous country.
- Highest Peak: Mount Ararat.