Russia summoned the Armenian ambassador to express protest over "unfriendly steps" during escalating tensions in the South Caucasus, specifically related to the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview with POLITICO that Russia can no longer be relied upon as a guarantor of Armenia's security in the face of escalating tensions with Azerbaijan, signaling a shift in Armenia's diplomatic relations and potentially its dependency on Russia.
Azerbaijan launched a large-scale offensive against the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to fears of a full-scale war and concerns over ethnic cleansing, while Russia's lack of intervention suggests a shifting power dynamic in the region.
Russian peacekeepers have been forced to admit defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh, handing control back to Azerbaijan after a 24-hour military offensive, which marks a stunning loss for Putin's Russia and a testament to the declining influence of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the region.
Ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh plan to relocate to Armenia due to their desire to avoid living under Azerbaijani rule and their fear of ethnic cleansing.
Russia's top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, accused Armenian leaders of worsening tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but expressed hope that Armenia would remain aligned with Russia and friendly regional states rather than outside influences.
Armenia's prime minister acknowledges the "ineffective" security relationships with Russia after Azerbaijan's successful takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh, raising doubts about Armenia's long-term alliance with Russia.
At least 13,500 Armenians have fled Nagorno-Karabakh, seeking safety and aid, while the United States urges Azerbaijan to protect civilians and allow humanitarian assistance.
The swift fall of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani troops and the mass exodus of its population has alarmed the Armenian diaspora, who fear the erasure of this historic homeland and the disappearance of the centuries-long Armenian community in the territory.
Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, seized the opportunity to retake the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave from Armenian control, taking advantage of a window of opportunity created by the inaction of Russia, the West, and Armenia, and fulfilling a personal goal that his father was unable to achieve.
Thousands of ethnic Armenians who fled Nagorno-Karabakh following Azerbaijan's offensive fear persecution and mourn the loss of their homeland, with hopes of a peace deal fading and concerns rising about future aggression.
As Azerbaijan regains control of the region known as Karabakh, which was previously under Armenian control, displaced Azerbaijanis hope to return, but face obstacles such as landmines and the destruction of their homes.
