Over half of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population flees as the separatist government says it will dissolve

By AVET DEMOURIAN and GAIANE YENOKIAN
Associated Press

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — The separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh says it will dissolve itself and the unrecognized republic will cease to exist by the end of the year. Armenian officials say over 78,000 people — about 65% of the region’s population of 120,000 — has already left for Armenia. The move to dissolve the government follows Azerbaijan’s lightning offensive last week to reclaim full control over the region in the south Caucasus Mountains. Armenian troops in Nagorno-Karabakh have agreed to lay down their weapons. Nagorno-Karabakh was run by ethnic Armenian separatist authorities for about 30 years but was internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory.