This independence was cut short in April 1920 by an invasion of the Red Army, and its independence was reasserted only on August 30, 1991. It has a population of over 7 million with 14 major ethnic groups and a parliamentary form of government headed by a popularly elected President. It is a country rich in natural resources, particularly oil. Azerbaijan has chosen not to become a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Fighting is concentrated in Azerbaijan's autonomous regions.
In 1988 the ethnic Armenian segment of the population in Nagorno-Karabakh declared itself independent of Azerbaijan. Since then the sporadic violence has grown into a full-scale war. By May 1992, the 60,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Nagorno-Karabakh had been driven from that region. The war has resulted in human rights violations on both sides of the conflict and the creation of some 400,000 refugees and displaced persons in Azerbaijan. Administering to the housing, employment, education, and health care needs of these refugees has strained the resources of this newly emerging country.