Ceasefire Agreement in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: October 10, 2020

On October 10, 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh region after weeks of intense fighting. This agreement was brokered in Moscow, Russia, following negotiations facilitated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The ceasefire was intended to halt hostilities and allow for the exchange of prisoners and the recovery of bodies from the battlefield.

Context and Background

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a long-standing territorial and ethnic dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The region, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, has a majority ethnic Armenian population and has been the center of conflict since the late 1980s. The tensions escalated into a full-scale war in the early 1990s, resulting in significant casualties and displacement.

Recent Escalation

The fighting that led to the October 2020 ceasefire began on September 27, 2020, marking one of the most severe escalations since the 1994 ceasefire. Both sides accused each other of initiating the conflict, which involved heavy artillery, drones, and other military technologies. The clashes resulted in hundreds of military and civilian casualties and raised international concerns about regional stability.

The Ceasefire Agreement

The ceasefire agreement reached on October 10, 2020, was primarily humanitarian, aiming to pause hostilities for humanitarian purposes. The key points included:

• Cessation of Hostilities: Both parties agreed to halt military actions to enable humanitarian efforts.
• Exchange of Prisoners and Bodies: The ceasefire allowed for the exchange of prisoners of war and the recovery of the deceased.
• Further Negotiations: The agreement called for substantive negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States, to reach a lasting peace settlement.

Violations and Challenges

Despite the agreement, reports of ceasefire violations emerged almost immediately, with both Armenia and Azerbaijan accusing each other of breaching the truce. The fragile nature of the ceasefire highlighted the deep-rooted mistrust and the complexity of the conflict.

Broader Historical Significance

The October 2020 ceasefire was a critical moment in the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reflecting the international community’s efforts to mediate peace in a volatile region. However, the persistent violations underscored the challenges in achieving a durable resolution. The conflict remains a significant geopolitical issue, involving regional powers such as Russia and Turkey, and continues to impact the lives of those in the region.

The ceasefire was a temporary measure, and subsequent developments in the conflict have continued to shape the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus.