Sept 25, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
Armenian government says at least 6,650 people from Nagorno-Karabakh cross into Armenia, amid reports of heavily congested roads
Thousands of ethnic Armenians fled the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday, queuing up for fuel and jamming the mountain road to Armenia after their fighters were defeated by Azerbaijan in a lightning military operation.
The leadership of the 120,000 Armenians who call Karabakh home stated on Sunday that they did not want to live as part of Azerbaijan and that they would leave for Armenia because they feared persecution and ethnic cleansing.
The Armenian government said at least 6,650 people from Nagorno-Karabakh had crossed into Armenia, up from about 4,850 people five hours earlier. Video showed a heavily congested road to Armenia from the enclave.
The ethnic Armenian leadership said it would remain in place until all
those who wanted to leave what they call Artsakh were able to go. They urged
residents to hold back from crowding the roads out but promised free fuel to
all those who were leaving.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars in the last three decades over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a majority ethnic Armenian enclave within the internationally
recognised border of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan launched a lightning operation on September 19 to seize control
of the territory, forcing the separatists to lay down their arms under the
terms of a ceasefire agreed the following day.
i24news