Nagorno Karabakh
photos by Karel Cudlin
Nagorno-Karabakh roughly translates as “mountainous black garden”, though the predominantly Armenian population often call it the ancient name of Artsakh. The region is a self-proclaimed independent republic within Azerbaijan, unrecognized by the international community.
Its beauty and timelessness mask a history of violence. After long periods of relative peace, Armenians and Azeris struggled for control of the area beginning in the early 20th century, with brutality on both sides. The Soviets established the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, creating new tensions that exploded toward the end of the USSR. The fighting that followed left thousands dead and millions displaced over the course of a decade. A 1994 ceasefire brought a political stalemate that continues today.
The mountains are still littered with mines, and the local infrastructure is old and often destroyed. With battle lines drawn, conflicts unsettled, unrecognized as a state, Nagorno-Karabakh exists apart.
For more information please visit: Karel Cudlin
