Nagorno-Karabakh officials began desperate negotiations with Azerbaijan through Russian mediation, seeking guarantees for the Armenian population’s survival as the humanitarian catastrophe reaches its breaking point.
Desperation Drives Talks
After 264 days of blockade:
- Population facing imminent starvation
- Medical system completely collapsed
- No international intervention materialized
- Russian protection proved hollow
- Surrender seen as only option
We are not negotiating from a position of strength. We are trying to save our people from complete annihilation. History will judge those who brought us to this point.
Negotiation Points
Azerbaijan demands complete dissolution of all Armenian governance structures and integration under Baku’s direct rule.
Key issues under discussion:
- Population guarantees - Safety promises for 120,000 Armenians
- Dissolution timeline - Dismantling of government
- Weapons surrender - Disarmament of defense forces
- Property rights - Future of Armenian homes/lands
- Cultural preservation - Fate of churches, monuments
Azerbaijan’s Demands
Baku’s non-negotiable positions:
- Complete “reintegration” under Azerbaijani law
- All officials to face Azerbaijani justice
- Armenian language secondary status
- Islamic law considerations
- No international monitoring
Armenian Desperation
Population Reaction
Mixed responses from exhausted population:
“If surrender means my children eat tomorrow, then surrender. We cannot fight starvation.” - Mother of four
“Our grandparents survived genocide. Now we’re negotiating our own disappearance.” - War veteran
“There is no choice. Die fighting, die of hunger, or try to survive under their rule.” - Local teacher
International Abandonment
Western Response
- Statements of “concern”
- No concrete intervention
- Sanctions discussions stalled
- Military option never considered
Russian Betrayal
Despite peacekeeping mandate:
- Facilitated surrender talks
- Offered no protection alternatives
- Preparing withdrawal plans
- Abandoned security guarantees
Armenian Government
Yerevan’s position:
- Cannot intervene militarily
- Diplomatic efforts failed
- International law ignored
- Population safety priority
Historical Parallel
We are witnessing the final chapter of Armenian presence in their historical homeland. What started in 1915 may end in 2023, not through massacre but engineered starvation.
Terms of Survival
Proposed “guarantees” from Azerbaijan:
- Amnesty - Except for “war criminals”
- Property - Subject to “registration”
- Movement - With “proper documents”
- Culture - Under state supervision
- Language - In private sphere only
Armenian negotiators privately admit these terms mean inevitable exodus.
Clock Ticking
As talks continue:
- Hospitals report daily deaths
- Food supplies exhausted
- Water system failing
- Social order breaking down
- Mass exodus preparations begin
The negotiations represent not a peace process but terms of capitulation for a starved population with no alternatives, marking potentially the end of millennia of Armenian presence in the region.