Republic of Artsakh

**Artsakh** (officially the **Republic of Artsakh**; ; , ), or the **Nagorno-Karabakh Republic** (), was a separatist state in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the South Caucasus. It controlled its own land but is legally part of Azerbaijan.

## History

Armenian people have lived there since classical antiquity. In the 11th century the Seljuk invasion swept over the Middle East, including the South Caucasus. Nomadic Turkic Oghuz Seljuk tribes, which also include the Azerbaijanis, came during this invasion. They became dominant in Nagorno-Karabakh. From this time, until the beginning of the 20th century, these tribes used Mountainous Karabakh as their summer pastures. They stayed there for about four to five months per year, and in fact, they owned the region.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have disputed the area since 1918. After the Soviet Union established control over the area, in 1923 it formed the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) within the Azerbaijan SSR. In the final years of the Soviet Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan started to dispute the region again. This dispute caused the Nagorno-Karabakh War from 1993 to 1994.

On 10 December 1991, a referendum (vote) was held in the NKAO and the neighbouring Shahumian region. The referendum asked voters the question: "Should this area be independent from Azerbaijan?" The Azerbaijani people boycotted the referendum: they protested by choosing not to vote. This resulted in a declaration of independence from Azerbaijan as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The country was not recognized by any UN member state, including Armenia.

There was dispute over the country's status ever since it was created. Azerbaijan claimed that they had the right to control Artsakh. Armenia supported Artsakh. From 2020 to 2023, there were multiple fights between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. On 28 September 2023, President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a deal with Azerbaijan's government to close down Artsakh's government by 1 January 2024, bringing an end to Artsakh. By October, almost all of the population had fled to Armenia.

## Geography

The Artsakh Republic has a lot of mountains. It is  in area, and borders Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. The highest peaks in the country are Mount Mrav, , and Mount Kirs . The major rivers are the Terter and Khachen rivers. Most rivers in the country flow towards the Artsakh valley.

The climate in the Artsakh Republic is mild. It is foggy for over 100 days a year. More than 36% of the country is forested.

## Demographics

In 2005, the country's population was 137,737. The ethnic composition was 137,380 (99.74%) Armenians, 171 (0.12%) Russians, 21 (0.02%) Ukrainians, 6 (0.00%) Azerbaijanis and 159 (0.12%) others.

The first demographic census in the Artsakh Republic took place in 1769. It was a letter from Heraclius II of Georgia to Russia's Petr Ivanovich Panin, and said, "Seven families rule the region of Khamse. Its population is totally Armenian."

In 2014, the life expectancy for males was 71.6 years, and females 76.8 years.

## Other websites

- Official websites
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
- Office of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Washington D.C.
- National Statistical Service of NKR
- President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic

- Media
- Articles and Photography on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) from UK Photojournalist Russell Pollard
- Artsakh World portal
- Karabakh-Open
- "Azat Artsakh", Artsakh Government's newspaper

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Republic of Artsakh
- **common name**: Artsakh
- **native name**:

- **image flag**: Flag of Artsakh.svg
- **image coat**: Emblem of the Republic of Artsakh.svg
- **national anthem**:
 (Wikipedia:Naming conventions (Armenian), transliteration)
"Free and Independent Artsakh"
- **image map**: Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (orthographic projection).svg
- **map caption**: <small>Territory controlled by Artsakh in dark green, claimed territory in light green.</small>
- **capital**: Stepanakert
- **largest city**: capital
- **official languages**: Armenian language, Armenian and Russian language, Russian
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Presidential system, presidential republic
- **leader title1**: President of Artsakh, President
- **leader name1**: Samvel Shahramanyan
- **leader title2**: President of the National Assembly of Artsakh, President of the National Assembly
- **leader name2**: Arthur Tovmasyan
- **legislature**: National Assembly (Artsakh), National Assembly
- **sovereignty type**: Independence
- **established event1**: Autonomy
- **established date2**: 10 December 1991
- **area km2**: 3170
- **area sq mi**: 1100
- **population census**: 150,932
- **population census year**: 2015
- **population census rank**: 191st
- **demonym**: Artsakhi
- **gdp ppp**: $713 million
- **gdp ppp year**: 2019
- **gdp ppp rank**: n/a
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $4,803
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: n/a
- **currency code**: AMD
- **time zone**: Armenia Time, AMT
- **utc offset**: +4
- **drives on**: right
- **calling code**: Telephone numbers in the Republic of Artsakh, +374 47<sup>c</sup>
- **footnote a**: The constitution guarantees "the free use of other languages spread among the population".
- **footnote b**: Head of state and head of government, after the post of prime minister was abolished following a 2017 Nagorno-Karabakh constitutional referendum, constitutional referendum.
- **footnote c**: +374 97 for mobile phones.
- **status**: International recognition of Artsakh, Unrecognised state
Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations#Members, Recognised by 3 non-UN members