More than 80% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population flees as future uncertain for those who remain

By AVET DEMOURIAN
Associated Press

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armenian officials say more than 80% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s original population have fled the ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan for neighboring Armenia. It comes as the separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh says it will dissolve itself by the end of the year. Armenian officials say that by Friday evening over 97,700 people had left Nagorno-Karabakh. The region’s population was around 120,000 before the exodus began. The move to dissolve the government follows Azerbaijan’s offensive last week to reclaim full control over the region. 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.