Reducing the Human Cost of the New Nagorno-Karabakh War

NEW STATEMENT FROM CRISIS GROUP

Reducing the Human Cost of the New Nagorno-Karabakh War

Two weeks into a renewed war between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces over the breakaway territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and its environs, fighting appears poised to escalate. On 10 October, a Russian-brokered humanitarian ceasefire intended to enable combatants to retrieve the bodies of the dead and exchange prisoners appeared to fall apart as its ink was drying. 

Both sides have since struck towns and villages, with enormous damage to lives and livelihoods. While it may take time for the parties to return to peace talks, they and international actors must act to stem the mounting human toll. Whatever an eventual settlement entails, it will be closer to hand and more sustainable if the parties stop killing civilians and adding fresh grievances to an already intractable conflict.
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More from Crisis Group

Our Visual Explainer features a uniquely detailed map of the front lines and interactive data charts on reports of casualties and on the use of heavy weaponry, drones and special operations in the conflict zone. 
🎧 What’s Behind the Fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh? In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Olesya Vartanyan, Crisis Group’s senior South Caucasus analyst, discusses the role played by Turkey, Russia, and other external actors in the conflict.