Russia's Interventions in Ethnic Conflicts : The Case of Armenia and Azerbaijan

This book explores the thirty-year border conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, specifically around the former autonomous republic of Nagorno Karabakh, and shows how Russia is the only winner in this conflict: fighting on both sides, supplying arms to both sides, and acting as the arbiter between the two sides. The author looks at Armenia, Azerbaijan and the separatists from military, political, economic and diplomatic perspectives, and offers insights on how the fighting has influenced society, and vice versa. The book provides an update to the history of the war to include major fighting in 2020, and examines how Russia obtained three military bases and most economic assets in Armenia, while becoming Azerbaijan's major weapons supplier to the tune of six billion dollars. It shows how Russia has tried to sideline the internationally-supported Minsk negotiations in favor of Russia assuming the sole role of arbiter, and argues that even though Russia has submitted a number of ceasefire proposals, it does little to encourage the sides to implement them. The book includes a discussion of international law, United Nations Resolutions, and rulings by the European Court of Human Rights. James J. Coyle is an international consultant on security and foreign policy. A diplomat for 24 years, he held a variety of positions, including Director of Middle East Studies at the US Army War College. He is the author of Russia's Border Wars and Frozen Conflicts (2018) and a frequent contributor to The Hill. He has taught at several universities in Southern California, and was a nonresident fellow of the Atlantic Council Preface 5 Contents 7 1 Roots of the Conflict 11 Geography 11 Demographics 12 Short-Lived Independence of Armenia and Azerbaijan Followed by Soviet Domination 16 End of the Soviet Era 20 Sumgait 22 The Rise of Nationalism 29 Black January 33 Declarations of Independence 40 2 The Military Face of a Frozen Conflict 43 Introduction 43 Khojaly Massacre 45 Hot War 51 Post War Military Actions 57 2020 68 Weapons Purchases 69 Conclusion 74 3 The Politics of Frozen Conflict 75 Armenia 75 Azerbaijan 90 Nagorno-Karabakh 96 Conclusion 100 4 The Economics of Frozen Conflict 101 Introduction 101 Armenia 102 Economic Ties Between Armenia and Iran 110 Armenia-China 113 Azerbaijan 115 Post-petroleum Azerbaijan 121 Conclusion 124 5 Diplomacy Surrounding Frozen Conflict 125 Diplomatic Maneuvers 125 The Story of Section 907 136 The Peace Process 142 Conclusion 174 6 Final Thoughts 175 Index 179 Front Matter ....Pages i-x Roots of the Conflict (James J. Coyle)....Pages 1-32 The Military Face of a Frozen Conflict (James J. Coyle)....Pages 33-64 The Politics of Frozen Conflict (James J. Coyle)....Pages 65-90 The Economics of Frozen Conflict (James J. Coyle)....Pages 91-114 Diplomacy Surrounding Frozen Conflict (James J. Coyle)....Pages 115-164 Final Thoughts (James J. Coyle)....Pages 165-168 Back Matter ....Pages 169-175