Russian forces stationed as peacekeepers in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region since the end of the 2020 war are now being withdrawn, as confirmed by officials from both countries on Wednesday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the withdrawal during a conference call with journalists, though he refrained from providing further details. Hikmet Hajiyev, representing Azerbaijan’s presidential administration in foreign policy matters, also verified the withdrawal, emphasizing that it was a mutually agreed decision.
While Hajiyev did not specify the reason behind the withdrawal, it seemed redundant given Azerbaijan’s complete reclamation of the region in the preceding year.
The Karabakh region had been under the control of ethnic Armenians until the 2020 conflict, which saw Azerbaijan regaining control of certain areas. The conflict concluded with a cease-fire brokered by Russia, stipulating the deployment of approximately 2,000 peacekeeping troops in the Armenian-held parts of Karabakh. Their responsibilities included ensuring unimpeded passage along the sole road connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
However, Azerbaijan began blocking this road in late 2022, alleging its use by Armenians for weapons transportation and mineral smuggling. Despite these developments, Russian forces did not intervene.
Following months of severe shortages in food and medicine in Karabakh due to the blockade, Azerbaijan initiated a swift military offensive in September 2023. This offensive led to the capitulation of Karabakh’s Armenian authorities after a single day of negotiations mediated by Russian forces.
Within days, nearly all of Karabakh’s 50,000 ethnic Armenian residents fled the region.
