The Wrong Side in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict: A Thorough Analysis

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is a complex web of history, religion, and geopolitical strategies. Who is really at fault? This piece seeks to provide a comprehensive timeline and analysis of the conflict, highlighting both Armenia and Azerbaijan's actions and the role of external influences.

A Background of Conflict

Historically, the conflict began with a desire for territorial expansion and religious dominance. Some argue that Azerbaijan's desire to establish a Muslim nation governed by ancient Sharia laws was a factor in their actions, while Armenia sought to protect itself against perceived historical injustices. However, it is important to critically examine the actions of both parties to determine who bears responsibility for the escalation of this conflict.

Unfortunate Events and Responsibilities

April 2016 marked a significant milestone in the conflict, with the so-called "Four Day War." This period saw an increase in violence and claims of atrocities on both sides. However, instead of focusing on the blame game, it is crucial to look at the major events that triggered and exacerbated the conflict.

Key Events Timeline

October 1987: Armenians were wrong for marching in Yerevan demanding that Karabakh and Nakhchivan be annexed to Armenia, igniting the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

January 1988: Armenians were wrong in forcefully expelling Azerbaijani inhabitants from the city of Kapan.

February 1988: Azerbaijanis were wrong in committing pogroms against Armenian inhabitants of the city of Sumgait.

September 1988: Azerbaijanis were wrong in expelling Armenians from Shusha, while Armenians were wrong in expelling Azerbaijanis from Stepanakert.

November 1988: Armenians were wrong for mass expelling Azerbaijanis across Armenia.

January 1990: Azerbaijanis were wrong for committing pogroms against Armenian inhabitants of Baku.

April 1991: Azerbaijanis were wrong for attacking and depopulating villages around Karabakh in Operation Ring.

February 1992: Armenians were wrong for the hundreds massacred at Khojaly.

April 1992: Azerbaijanis were wrong for the massacres at the village of Maragha.

March 1993: Armenians were wrong in capturing Kelbajar region, expanding the war beyond the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh and facing U.N. condemnation.

August 1993: After capturing Agdam, Armenians were wrong for continuing to capture Fizuli, Jebrayil, and Gubatlu, incurring further U.N. condemnation.

February 1998: Armenians were wrong for forcing the resignation of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who was negotiating a lasting peace treaty.

January 2004: Azerbaijanis were wrong for lionizing axe murderer Ramil Safarov, justifying his brutal actions, and illegally releasing him in 2012 with a hero’s welcome.

April 2016: Azerbaijan was wrong for launching the Four Day War, where hundreds of soldiers died.

March 2019: Armenia was wrong for its Minister of Defense making a bellicose statement about new territories in the event of a new war.

August 2019: Armenia was wrong for its Prime Minister undermining the peace process by declaring, "Artsakh is Armenia, the end."

September 2020: Azerbaijan was wrong for launching a massive new war, spreading disinformation about the start of the war and beginning a process of capturing thousands of people.

October 2020: Azerbaijan was wrong for dropping banned cluster bombs and missiles onto the civilian streets of Stepanakert/Khankendi.

October 2020: Armenia was wrong for responding with missiles onto the civilian streets of Barda and Ganja cities.

October 2020: Azerbaijan was wrong for capturing the southern NK district of Hadrut and committing atrocities and ethnic cleansing.

December 2020: Azerbaijan was wrong for violating the ceasefire signed in November, continuing to take prisoners and occupying new territories.

May 2021: Azerbaijan was wrong for beginning to invade the territory of Armenia after Armenia handed back Kelbajar and neighboring regions.

September 2022: Azerbaijan was wrong for launching attacks all across the Armenia border, invading and capturing more territories, while committing atrocities and war crimes.

Conclusion

While this analysis is not intended to provide a comprehensive scorecard of wrongdoings, it does highlight the pivotal, egregious, and escalatory actions by both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia's irredentism ignited the conflict, and Azerbaijan's continued attacks have made lasting peace less and less possible.

The moral of the story is that it is crucial for all parties involved to recognize their past wrongdoings and work towards mutual understanding, negotiation, and peace. The use of religion and history as weapons has only led to more suffering and destruction.