Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
Encyclopedia
The Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous Oblast
was an autonomous oblast
within the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR
, mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and created on July 7, 1923. According to Karl R. DeRouen it was created as an enclave so that a narrow strip of land would separate it from Armenia proper. According to Audrey L. Altstadt the oblast's borders were drawn to include Armenian villages and to exclude as much as possible Azerbaijani villages. The resulting district ensured an Armenian majority.
After the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 1987 between the Armenian and Azerbaijan SSRs, it grew into a full-scale war
by the end of 1991. On November 26, 1991, the Parliament of the Azerbaijan SSR abolished the autonomous status of the NKAO and administratively split the region between the neighboring rayons of Khojavend, Tartar, Goranboy, Shusha and Kalbajar In response, the majority Armenian population of the region unilaterally declared independence
as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
, so most of territories of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast remains under the control of the ethnic Armenian forces of Nagorno-Karabakh
as result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War
. When the Soviet Union dissolved
, the Nagorno-Karabakh region was reaffirmed as part of the newly independent Republic of Azerbaijan
by the United Nations Security Council
. Today, the NKR is not recognized by any state or international government organization, and is de jure part of Azerbaijan.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
Autonomous Oblast
Autonomous oblast
An autonomous oblast is an autonomous entity within the state which is on the oblast level of the overall administrative subdivision. It may refer to:*Autonomous oblasts of the Soviet Union*Autonomous oblasts of Russia...
was an autonomous oblast
Autonomous oblasts of the Soviet Union
Autonomous oblasts of the Soviet Union were administrative units created for a number of smaller nations, which were given autonomy within the republics of the Soviet Union.-Azerbaijan SSR:*Nagorno-Karabakh AO -Byelorussian SSR:...
within the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR
Azerbaijan SSR
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Azerbaijan SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union....
, mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and created on July 7, 1923. According to Karl R. DeRouen it was created as an enclave so that a narrow strip of land would separate it from Armenia proper. According to Audrey L. Altstadt the oblast's borders were drawn to include Armenian villages and to exclude as much as possible Azerbaijani villages. The resulting district ensured an Armenian majority.
After the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 1987 between the Armenian and Azerbaijan SSRs, it grew into a full-scale war
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
by the end of 1991. On November 26, 1991, the Parliament of the Azerbaijan SSR abolished the autonomous status of the NKAO and administratively split the region between the neighboring rayons of Khojavend, Tartar, Goranboy, Shusha and Kalbajar In response, the majority Armenian population of the region unilaterally declared independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, so most of territories of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast remains under the control of the ethnic Armenian forces of Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the unrecognized but de-facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
as result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
. When the Soviet Union dissolved
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
, the Nagorno-Karabakh region was reaffirmed as part of the newly independent Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
by the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
. Today, the NKR is not recognized by any state or international government organization, and is de jure part of Azerbaijan.
Administrative divisions
- Mardakert Rayon (NKAO)Mardakert Rayon (NKAO)Mardakert Rayon was one of the five rayons of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .Until September 1935 it was called Jraberd Rayon...
- Martuni Rayon (NKAO)Martuni Rayon (NKAO)Martuni Rayon was one of the five rayons of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic ....
- Shusha Rayon (NKAO)Shusha Rayon (NKAO)Shusha Rayon was one of the five rayons of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic ....
- Askeran Rayon (NKAO)Askeran Rayon (NKAO)Askeran Rayon was one of the five rayons of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic . Its capital was Askeran...
- Hadrut Rayon (NKAO)Hadrut Rayon (NKAO)Hadrut Rayon was one of the five rayons of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .Until September 1935 it was called Dizag Rayon...