Armenia and Azerbaijan are making progress towards normalizing relations following a long-standing conflict over territory. The two nations are working on demarcating their boundaries, with the first border marker being placed recently.
Azerbaijan regained control of the Karabakh province, previously held by ethnic Armenian forces since the 1990s, after a six-week war in 2020. In September 2023, Azerbaijani forces, with Russian mediation, compelled Karabakh's Armenian authorities to capitulate.
Recently, an agreement was reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding a border that would pass through four Armenian villages in the Tavush province, resulting in Armenia ceding territory to Azerbaijan. The first border marker has been installed, although its exact location remains undisclosed.
Protests erupted in Armenia following the news, with demonstrators blocking roads in the affected region and setting up roadblocks in other parts of the country. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed optimism about nearing a peace agreement with Armenia.
Armenia's prime minister emphasized the importance of defining the border quickly to prevent further hostilities. Many residents in Armenia's border regions oppose the demarcation, viewing it as encroachment by Azerbaijan.
Russian peacekeepers, stationed in Karabakh since the 2020 war, have begun withdrawing. The peacekeepers' role included ensuring passage on the main road connecting Karabakh and Armenia. Azerbaijan had blocked this road, citing concerns about weapon shipments and smuggling, leading to food and medicine shortages in Karabakh.
After regaining control of Karabakh, most of its population fled to Armenia, despite Azerbaijan's assurances of human rights protection for those who remained.
