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Nagorno-Karabakh vol.1



According to The Lonely Planet travel guide book I carried to Armenia last year, "Nagorno-Karabakh" is consist of three different language, "Nagorno" (for mountain in Russian) , "Kara" (for black in Turkish) and "Bakh" (for garden in Persian). The mountain area between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been dominated by various nations in long history. That's the reason of the strange name.


Conflict had occurred over the Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the end of this September. The both countries has sat at the table of ceasefire talks several times, although it ended in disagreement. In November, it's finally agreed through the intermediation of Russia.
The central city of Nagorno-Karabakh is Stepanakert. 9km from the city, there is an old town which is called Shusha. The town is culturally important place for both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The history of Nagorno-Karabakh is something like a repainted picture. Take a look at the history through the transition of the city population. The reference is a table in Wikipedia "The population and ethnic ratio of Shusha".


According to Russian empire's population survey in 1823, the population of Shusha was 1,532. The ethnic ratio in the residents is Armenian 27.5% to Azeri 72.5%. After that Muslim Azeri people evacuated to Persia because of Russia-Persia war . Meanwhile number of Armenian residents gradually increased. At the end of the 19th century, Armenian population reached to 53% over 41% for Azeri. By the time, Shusha became the second biggest town in Caucasus after Tbilisi of Georgia.


Big turnover in the ethnic ratio was happen in 1920. Armenian residents protest to the pressure of Azerbaijan authority. Armenian district in Shusha was burned out by Azeri forces and the residents are killed or expelled. The conflict between the two countries has been continued after that. By the survy in 1926, Armenian residents were sharply decrease to 1.8% while 96% for the Azeri. The population of the town also diminish to around 10,000, and Shusha became a small local town.


Later on the ratio of Armenian residents had gradually increased until military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1988. Armenian residents expelled once again by the battle. 98% of the population was occupied by Azeri people.
However another conflict in 1992 was ended up in Armenia's win, and Azeri people were expelled from the town. Since then until this conflict, the residents have been occupied by Armenian who evacuated from Azerbaijan and settled from other districts in Nagorno- Kharabakh.



Today's piece
" Somewhere in Russia or Azerbaijan "  2019




fumikatz osada photographie