Azerbaijani border guards on Tuesday sought out “struggle crime” suspects among the many Armenian refugees flooding out of Nagorno-Karabakh after Baku claimed management of the separatist statelet in a lightning offensive final week.
The quantity of people that entered Armenia following the operation surpassed 19,000 and continued rising, a day after an enormous gasoline blast on the sting of the separatist stronghold Stepanakert killed a minimum of 20 folks.
Many of the victims had been stocking up on gasoline for the journey alongside a twisting mountain highway that provides the traditionally disputed area its lone hyperlink to Armenia.
Yerevan has warned of potential “ethnic cleaning” by Azerbaijan — an in depth ally of Armenia’s arch-nemesis Turkey — after Baku launched a 24-hour blitz that compelled the rebels to conform to disarm final Wednesday.
Predominantly Christian Armenia and overwhelmingly Muslim Azerbaijan have fought two lethal wars over the territory for the reason that Soviet Union’s 1991 collapse.
The realm is now populated by as much as 120,000 ethnic Armenians however is internationally recognised as half Azerbaijan.
The unhealthy blood between the perimeters runs deep and is aggravated by recollections of alleged wartime massacres of civilians and human rights abuses.
An AFP workforce allowed to entry the refugees’ path to Armenia, on a tour organised by the Azerbaijani authorities, noticed that the general public crossing the border had been ladies with youngsters and the aged.
The few Armenian males of their 20s and 30s popping out Tuesday had been compelled to stare right into a digicam for identification on the final Azerbaijani border put up.
“Azerbaijan intends to use an amnesty to Armenian fighters who laid down their arms in Karabakh,” an Azerbaijani authorities supply informed AFP.
“However those that dedicated struggle crimes throughout the Karabakh wars should be handed over to us,” the supply mentioned.
– ‘We fought nicely’ –
Armenia mentioned earlier Tuesday that greater than 19,000 refugees had fled for the reason that first group arrived within the nation on Sunday.
AFP reporters on either side of the border noticed lots of of automobiles piled excessive with belongings shifting slowly alongside the jam-packed highway.
A few of the autos crept alongside on flat tyres, whereas many different folks merely walked previous the final Azerbaijani checkpoint.
“They expelled us,” one man mentioned as he walked previous the Azerbaijani troopers.
Yanik Zakaryan took half in final week’s preventing.
The 37-year-old, resting on the Armenian aspect of the border, mentioned he was grateful for the Russian peacekeepers patrolling the area since Azerbaijan clawed again swathes of territory in a six-week struggle in 2020.
“We fought nicely, however at one level we discovered ourselves surrounded,” Zakaryan informed AFP. “The Russians got here to get us out.”
– ‘Horrific, painful burns’ –
The humanitarian drama was heightened by a blast late Monday that rocked a gasoline depot thronged by crowds of refugees.
The separatist authorities on Tuesday mentioned 13 our bodies had been discovered on the scene and 7 extra folks had died of their accidents.
It mentioned 290 folks had been hospitalised and “dozens of sufferers stay in vital situation”.
Azerbaijan allowed Pink Cross groups to hurry in ambulances to assist deal with the burn victims — and for Armenia to evacuate some by helicopter.
“That is an absolute tragedy for lots of of individuals now affected by horrific, painful burns,” Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross regional director Ariane Bauer mentioned.
The victims’ remedy was being sophisticated by shortages of remedy ensuing from a nine-month blockade Azerbaijan had imposed to deliver the area to heel.
Azerbaijan on Sunday turned on the electrical energy for Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh’s foremost metropolis, as a part of its broader “reintegration” drive.
Envoys from Baku and Yerevan had been in Brussels on Tuesday to organize the primary assembly between their leaders since final week’s offensive, set for October 5.
The size of the exodus prompted Armenian opposition leaders on Tuesday to name off six days of anti-government protests which have disrupted site visitors in Yerevan, in order that officers can concentrate on caring for the refugees.
– Keep or go? –
The separatists mentioned Tuesday that 208 folks had died in final week’s preventing.
The perimeters have since held two rounds of closed-door talks mediated by Russia centered on placing the area below Baku’s management.
However Azerbaijan’s forces have nonetheless not entered Stepanakert or totally disarmed all of the insurgent fighters.
Many civilians within the area gave the impression to be affected by debates — a few of them spilling onto social media — on wether to remain or go.
Some mentioned they might not reside below the authority of Azerbaijanis.
Others argue that leaving now implies that Armenians may by no means be capable of return and lose the area for good.
Sveta Moussaylyan mentioned this was the fourth time she had been compelled to maneuver due to the many years of strife and modifications in management over tiny hamlets.
“I am not that outdated, however I’ve already seen a lot!” the 50-year-old mentioned.
burs-zak/js
Initially revealed as Azerbaijan seeks ‘struggle crime’ suspects in sea of Karabakh refugees