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On-Site Investigation Report on Human Rights in Karabakh

gorno-Karabakh to itself. As a result of unceasing tensions, Nagorno-Kara-
bakh was given the status of an autonomous region in 1923, and in Novem-
ber 1924, the “Autonomous Nagorno-Karabakh Oblast” was declared on the
condition that its sovereignty remain in Azerbaijan. Its name was changed to
“Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast” with the 1936 Constitution of the
Soviet Union. 3

As the population changed in favour of Armenians over time, a decision was
taken by the Executive Committee of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
to unite with Armenia in 1988, but this decision was annulled by Azerbaijan
on the grounds that it was invalid.

The USSR also rejected this decision on the grounds that it was legally con-
trary to the USSR Constitution and the Constitution of the Republics. Im-
mediately after, 2 Azerbaijanis were killed by Armenians in Karabakh, which
caused conflicts and demonstrations. The conflicts gradually increased in
violence, and many people lost their lives. 4

One of the most painful examples of increasing violence was the genocide
committed by Armenians in the town of Khojaly in 1992, and hundreds of
Azerbaijani civilians were killed in the Khojaly massacre. In the same year,
the OSCE Minsk Group was formed in order to end the conflicts between
Azerbaijan and Armenia and create an amicable settlement, and for this
purpose, a conference was planned to be organised in Minsk. However, this
conference could not be held. Although the efforts of the Minsk group, which
was formed to achieve peace in the region, were insufficient, they were the
basis for the UN Security Council resolutions, and 4 resolutions, namely 822,
853, 874, and 884, were published by the Council in 1993. The purpose of the
aforementioned resolutions was to stop the armed conflict, and they urged
Armenia to withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani territories.
Although the conflicts ended with the Bishkek Ceasefire Agreement signed
in 1994, 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Shusha, Fuzuli, Aghdam, and
Lachin, was occupied by Armenia in this period.
It is estimated that around 750,000-800,000 Azerbaijani citizens were forcibly
displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh between 1988 and 1994, making them in-
ternally displaced people (IDPs) .Although the conflict ended with the Bish-
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kek Agreement, the occupation did not end. With the occasional ceasefire
violations, it was stated that the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region

3 Azer C., Yukarı Karabağ Sorunu ve Minsk Grubu, Ermeni Arastırmaları, 2013, Sayı 44
Garibov M., XX.Yüzyılda Ermenistan-Azerbaycan, Dağlık Karabağ Sorunu, Atatürk Araştırma Merkezi, Ankara 2017
4
5 Human Rights Watch, Seven Years of Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, 1994

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