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The beginning of a new war or sloppiness? On the clash on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border

The beginning of a new war or sloppiness? On the clash on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border

12 July on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, weapons spoke again. Another longstanding conflict on the territory of the former USSR reminded of itself. Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

The last serious clash between the Armenian and Azerbaijani military, probably, should be considered the battle near the villages of Chinari and Berdavan of the Tovush region of Armenia in June 2012 of the year. Probably, it sounds strange, but the essence of the conflict over the past time has not become more understandable to the layman, a, conversely, moved into the realm of speculation and personal resentment. And meanwhile it, probably, the oldest conflict in the territory of the former USSR.

Conflict, which was well known to all the then leaders of the country, but for ideological reasons, hushed up and did their best not to advertise what was happening in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (nAs) Azerbaijan SSR.

The Soviet Union brought up a "new historical community of people" - the Soviet people. The leaders of the country and the national republics hoped to eventually remove the basis of the conflict on ethnic grounds. To some extent, this problem was actually solved. Indeed, there was no open confrontation in the NKAR.

The first sprouts of a future war appeared in the 60s of the last century, when calls began to be heard in Yerevan to return the historically Armenian lands to Armenia. Exactly then, in my opinion, the conflict began to move to the grassroots level, the level of personal relations between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

Some of the readers, especially the younger generation, gave the impression, that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is a product of perestroika and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, if you know the history of this situation in the South Caucasus, we can say, that very soon the conflict will celebrate the "centennial anniversary" of its birth. think about it, 100 years of "frozen conflict"!

A small excursion into the history of Nagorno-Karabakh

The appearance of territorial claims to each other among the republics of the Caucasus is historically associated with ... the collapse of the Russian Empire and the creation of national states. Probably, many of the school history course remember the state, which was created in 1918 year on the territory of the South Caucasus - the Transcaucasian Democratic Federal Republic (ZDFR). When three nations (Georgians, Armenians and Azerbaijanis) decided to live together. But few can explain, where did this republic go.

Soviet historical science did not explain this question to schoolchildren.. The time was like this. Around friends, who quickly turn into enemies, and vice versa. Therefore, the creation and collapse of such state entities is the same objective reality., and how, eg, appearance of clouds in the sky. Meanwhile, the new state collapsed within a month. Three states appeared on the ruins at once and many territorial claims to each other. Clashes over disputed territories begin.

AT 1920 the Sovietization of Azerbaijan took place. The Bolsheviks, with the active assistance of the Red Army under the leadership of the commander of the Caucasian Front M. Tukhachevsky and a member of the RVS G. Ordzhonikidze, who defeated the Volunteer Army and supported the uprising in Baku in April 1920 of the year, seized power in the country. The famous raid of the "red armored trains" (commander Efremov) in a short time ensured the establishment of Soviet power.

The beginning of a new war or sloppiness? On the clash on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border

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It was at this time that the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh was decided. The territory came under the control of Baku, and soon (1921 year) was announced and the creation of an autonomous region in Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.

Armenia became part of the USSR only in 1922 year. But time was wasted, and the Bolsheviks didn’t really do this in the 20s. almost all 1922 a year a new state was built - the USSR. In the version of the Caucasian republics, their own Union was built - FSSSRZ (Federal Union of Socialist Soviet Republics of Transcaucasia, creation agreement approved 12 Martha 1922 years in Tiflis). The status of NK as an autonomous region of Azerbaijan in the agreement was officially approved.

Shed blood divided the nations

I will deliberately skip the Soviet period of Karabakh. Just because, that in reality blood was shed again already in modern times, when did the collapse of the USSR begin. perestroika, publicity, persecution of the secret services, the practical absence of censorship and the almost complete loss of confidence in the authorities - all this could not but cause the activation of nationalists in the republics.

In our case, the Armenian National Democrats were the first to become active.. It was Yerevan that raised the issue of the status of NK. And it was precisely the pressure of Armenian politicians that led to, what in 1988 year (20 February) Stepanakert adopts at a meeting of the Council of People's Deputies a document on secession from Azerbaijan and joining Armenia. In my opinion, this decision should be considered as the beginning of an open confrontation between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Karabakh.

The question arises: why was such a document adopted? This question must be considered in the light of the, which were at that time practically throughout the territory of the USSR. And in fact? Answer on the surface. National composition of the population of Karabakh: 76% – Armenians!

In response to this decision, in my opinion, became a massacre in Azerbaijani Sumgayit (27-29 February 1988 of the year). Of course, can be called the beginning of other events, like shooting between Armenians and Azerbaijanis from Aghdam, who were sent to Stepanakert "to restore order" 21 February. Or the mass exodus of Azerbaijanis from the Kafan region, when one night the area left immediately 2 thousand. But Sumgayit stands out in this row.

by the way, technology applied in Sumgayit, was subsequently applied in Kyiv. in the evening 27 April, hundreds, heated by the rally and warmed up by wine (the fact is proven and recognized by all parties) Azerbaijanis began to smash the houses of Armenians. Let me give you just one example from B.. Krivopuskov "Rebellious Karabakh". From the diary of an officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR " (the author served in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, at 90-91 years was the chief of staff of the investigative-operational group of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region):

"Pogromists, split into groups of several dozen people, broke into Armenian apartments, preplanned. People were killed in their own homes, but more often they were taken out into the streets or into the yard for public mockery of them. Few people had to die immediately from the blow of an ax or a knife.. Most expected agonizing bullying. Beaten until unconscious, doused with gasoline and burned alive. There were frequent cases of gang rape of women and girls, violence often happened in front of loved ones, after which they were killed. Didn't feel sorry for the elderly, no children".

What's next?

Talking about events in this region is a thankless task.. Just because, that the more you delve into events at the level of ordinary people, at the village level, one family, the harder it becomes to find a solution. Each side gives a lot of facts, which testify to the wrongness of the enemy. It is the facts, and not speculation and information from the category of "people say".

Try to prove, that people are not to blame, but the government is to blame, if I give you one well-known fact. Census 1979 of the year. lives in Azerbaijan 475 thousand Armenians! In Armenia - 160 thousand Azerbaijanis. Across 10 years, census 1989 of the year. lives in Azerbaijan 390 thousand Armenians. In Armenia - 85 thousand Azerbaijanis. And two years later, those numbers were almost zero.! It came from the policy of the authorities or from Sumgayit and similar things?

Try to explain to Armenians, whose relatives died in the same Sumgayit, that it's just an uncontrollable outburst of anger, stupidity of youth or something else, what needs to be forgotten. Try to explain to the resident of the border village, adult male for 50, and that too for 60, that shooting from the other side is a provocation, and you can’t respond to this with return fire. And he has his own trench in the garden, in which he has already defended dozens of times. I've talked to these people. "This is my land! This is where my ancestors lived and died. This is where my children were born. And no one will kick me out of here. I'd rather die, but I won't leave!»

The beginning of a new war or sloppiness? On the clash on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Azerbaijani artillery shelled Armenian border positions again

Try to explain to Azerbaijanis, why should they lose their land. They have lived here for many decades in the same way., and can, centuries. Why did the Armenians occupy Azerbaijani lands under the banner of the struggle for the annexation of Nagorno-Karabakh, which border on Karabakh? remind, during the three-year war (It started in 1992 year) Karabakh gained independence from Baku, actually occupying, fully or partially, seven regions of Azerbaijan! If we calculate the total area of ​​territories (Karabakh, Kelbajar, Lachin, Kubatly, Fuzuli, Agdam, Zangelan, Jebrail) turns out to be an impressive number.: 19 thousand square kilometers.

The conflict has gone to the grassroots, it becomes difficult to control. Ten years ago, Armenians from Karabakh told me about provocateurs on both sides, which often appeared on the line of demarcation, started shooting, hurt or killed someone on the other side and disappeared. And the local self-defense units continued to "fight". Often not understanding, for what.

While the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be more Armenians or Azerbaijanis, than presidents, premieres, deputies and other leaders, conflict will smolder.

Instead of a conclusion

I will give readers two messages from two ministries of defense about, what happened at noon 12 July near Nagorno-Karabakh, just in the same safety belt, about which I wrote above.

"Starting at noon 12 July units of the armed forces of Armenia, grossly violating the ceasefire in the Tovuz region of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border, shelled our positions from artillery mounts ".
Azerbaijani military

“for reasons unknown to us, they tried to violate the state border of Armenia in the direction of the Tavush region in a UAZ car ... After the warnings of the Armenian side, the Azerbaijani servicemen, leaving the car, returned to their positions. After that, the servicemen of Azerbaijan again tried to seize the Armenian position., by subjecting it to artillery fire".
I think, for those, who has ever been to hot spots, enough. military group, who have a service UAZ at their disposal, went somewhere on the weekend. Naturally, on official business. The road was “mixed up” for some reason and we went straight to the checkpoint of the opposite side.

Crazy from such impudence, the fighters at the checkpoint, naturally, tried to warn those sitting in the car, what can't be done. But again, for some reason, no one heard the warning in the UAZ. Respectively, when approaching the checkpoint at the adjusted range, the soldiers opened fire to kill. result, according to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan: two "two hundredths" and five "three hundredths". Likely, Considering, that the car was abandoned, still got off with "three hundred". The rest appeared in the course of further shooting..

And the explanation is simple. they, who was entitled to a company car, probably, they also have the right to command some units or units ... In short, sloppiness common in war, multiplied by fatigue from the fight against coronavirus, fatigue from nervous tension and other factors.

War today is not needed by either side. Just because, that the goals of this war are unclear. And the soldiers are tired of just killing each other. There is no solution on the battlefield! Even Russia, whatever it may seem to both sides, unable to resolve this conflict. I personally, having friends and Armenians, and Azerbaijanis, I can't decide for myself, who is right, and who is to blame. Everyone is right and everyone is wrong. I think, in the Kremlin, about the same mood.

Paradoxically, but, in my opinion, shooting must be stopped, Bury the dead. send the wounded for treatment. And then take the politicians by the throat and call on them to solve the Karabakh issue peacefully. And who is “the most-most Armenian or Azerbaijani, who will never compromise the interests of the country", let them go to zero and there they argue with each other through the embrasure of the checkpoint. Stop living in war.

Alexander Staver

A source

                          
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