Lachin
Encyclopedia
Lachin is a town in Azerbaijan
and the regional center of the Lachin Rayon
. Since 1992 the area has been under the control of the de facto
independent unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
, which has renamed the town Berdzor . The town and its surrounding region serve as the strategic Lachin corridor
connecting the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with Armenia
. With about 1,700 inhabitants in 2009 (down from 2,300 in 2005), population numbers are still declining despite a proactive settlement policy by the authorities.
, Lachin was captured by Nagorno Karabakh forces, opening the first land-corridor to Armenia. Previously, Turkey
had threatened Armenia on May 13, 1992, "that it would intervene militarily if Shusha
and Lachin were not restored to Azerbaijan". Russia responded by signing a military agreement with Armenia, pledging military aid if its security were threatened. On the May 20, 1992, Turkey reassured Russia, that it would not intervene militarily. Thus, after a three year blockade, a land bridge linking the Republic of Armenia with the territory of Nagorno Karabakh was established. In the fall of 1992, Azerbaijani forces tried to regain control over Lachin, but were repulsed. Most of Lachin's Azerbaijani and Kurdish population fled as a result of the fall of the region to Nagorno-Karabakh forces.
coming from Iranian Kurdistan
in the early 19th century. Eventually, this population became the majority in most parts of the region, particularly around Lachin. In the early 1920s, Vladimir Lenin
's letter to Narimanov
"had implied that Lachin was to be included in Azerbaijan, but the authorities in Baku and Yerevan were given promises that were inevitably contradictory." The town of Lachin on July 7, 1923, became the capital of Kurdistan Uyezd often known as Red Kurdistan. It was dissolved on April 8, 1929: Kurdish schools and newspapers were closed. According to what Bushkapin wrote, official statistics of 1931 showed that there were 3,322 Kurdish speakers in Lachin. These figures did not include those individuals who did not speak Kurdish but nonetheless defined themselves as Kurds. Most of the Kurdish population in Lachin were Shi'a Muslims and were deported by the Soviet authorities, in late 1930s. However, many Kurds still were able to remain in the town and there was a Kurdish minority in the area before the Nagorno-Karabakh war started.
which attaches Armenia
to Nagorno-Karabakh. The OSCE Minsk group co-chairs noted that "Lachin has been treated as a separate case in previous negotiations." This is because Lachin is Nagorno Karabakh's humanitarian and security corridor. Without it, Nagorno-Karabakh would remain an isolated enclave. It is because of Lachin's political and geographic reality and security dimension, that it is viewed differently in the negotiation
process. The Lachin corridor and the Kelbajar district have been at the center of Armenian
demands during the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks with Azerbaijan. According to Emmanuel Karagiannis, the Lachin corridor is "too strategic a position for Karabakh Armenians to let Azerbaijan place its military forces there, driving, a wedge between the enclave and Armenia."
, and the capital city in the Lachin district.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
and the regional center of the Lachin Rayon
Lachin Rayon
Lachin is a rayon of Azerbaijan. The capital is the city of Lachin. The region has been controlled by the breakway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as part of its Qashatagh Province, since the Nagorno-Karabakh War....
. Since 1992 the area has been under the control of the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
independent unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, which has renamed the town Berdzor . The town and its surrounding region serve as the strategic Lachin corridor
Lachin corridor
The Lachin corridor is a mountain pass within de-jure borders of Azerbaijan, it is the shortest route which connects Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
connecting the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. With about 1,700 inhabitants in 2009 (down from 2,300 in 2005), population numbers are still declining despite a proactive settlement policy by the authorities.
History
Lachin was known as Abdalyar until 1923. On 15 May 1992, during the Nagorno-Karabakh WarNagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
, Lachin was captured by Nagorno Karabakh forces, opening the first land-corridor to Armenia. Previously, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
had threatened Armenia on May 13, 1992, "that it would intervene militarily if Shusha
Shusha
Shusha , also known as Shushi is a town in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. It has been under the control of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since its capture in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
and Lachin were not restored to Azerbaijan". Russia responded by signing a military agreement with Armenia, pledging military aid if its security were threatened. On the May 20, 1992, Turkey reassured Russia, that it would not intervene militarily. Thus, after a three year blockade, a land bridge linking the Republic of Armenia with the territory of Nagorno Karabakh was established. In the fall of 1992, Azerbaijani forces tried to regain control over Lachin, but were repulsed. Most of Lachin's Azerbaijani and Kurdish population fled as a result of the fall of the region to Nagorno-Karabakh forces.
Demographics (1989)
- Azeris 61.5% (7.902)
- Kurds 20.1% (2.613)
- ArmeniansArmeniansArmenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
18% (2.210) - Other 0.4% (52)
Kurds
The town was settled by the first Kurdish tribesKurdish tribes
Kurdish tribes of Kurdistan consist of:*Republic of Azerbaijan*Sheylanli tribe*West Azarbaijan Province:*Jalali*Milan*Haydaran*Donboli*korahsuni*Shekak*Herki*Bagzâdah*Zerzâ*Pirân*Pizhdar*Mâmash*Mangur*Mokri*Dehbokri*Gowrâg*Malkari*Suseni...
coming from Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan is an unofficial name for the parts of Iran inhabited by Kurds and has borders with Iraq and Turkey. It includes Kurdistan Province, Kermanshah Province, Ilam Province and parts of West Azerbaijan province....
in the early 19th century. Eventually, this population became the majority in most parts of the region, particularly around Lachin. In the early 1920s, Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
's letter to Narimanov
Nariman Narimanov
Narimanov Nariman Karbalayi Najaf oglu was an Azerbaijani revolutionary, writer, publicist, politician and statesman. In 1920, Narimanov headed the Soviet government of Azerbaijan, the Provisional Military-Revolutionary Committee , replacing Mirza Davud Huseynov, then he was the Chairman of the...
"had implied that Lachin was to be included in Azerbaijan, but the authorities in Baku and Yerevan were given promises that were inevitably contradictory." The town of Lachin on July 7, 1923, became the capital of Kurdistan Uyezd often known as Red Kurdistan. It was dissolved on April 8, 1929: Kurdish schools and newspapers were closed. According to what Bushkapin wrote, official statistics of 1931 showed that there were 3,322 Kurdish speakers in Lachin. These figures did not include those individuals who did not speak Kurdish but nonetheless defined themselves as Kurds. Most of the Kurdish population in Lachin were Shi'a Muslims and were deported by the Soviet authorities, in late 1930s. However, many Kurds still were able to remain in the town and there was a Kurdish minority in the area before the Nagorno-Karabakh war started.
Terrain
The town is scenically built on the side of a mountain on the left bank of Akera river.Nagorno-Karabakh war
Lachin town and the surrounding rayon were the location of severe fighting during the 1990-1994 Nagorno-Karabakh war, and the town has not recovered from the destruction of that war. Lachin is the most important town under Armenian control because of the Lachin corridorLachin corridor
The Lachin corridor is a mountain pass within de-jure borders of Azerbaijan, it is the shortest route which connects Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
which attaches Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
to Nagorno-Karabakh. The OSCE Minsk group co-chairs noted that "Lachin has been treated as a separate case in previous negotiations." This is because Lachin is Nagorno Karabakh's humanitarian and security corridor. Without it, Nagorno-Karabakh would remain an isolated enclave. It is because of Lachin's political and geographic reality and security dimension, that it is viewed differently in the negotiation
process. The Lachin corridor and the Kelbajar district have been at the center of Armenian
demands during the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks with Azerbaijan. According to Emmanuel Karagiannis, the Lachin corridor is "too strategic a position for Karabakh Armenians to let Azerbaijan place its military forces there, driving, a wedge between the enclave and Armenia."
Administrative divisions
Before the Nagorno-Karabakh war there were 125 villages, one city-type settlement, MinkendMinkend
Minkend is a Kurdish village in Lachin district of Azerbaijan. Since May 17, 1992 the village together with Lachin district has been under control of the Armenian forces.-Geography:...
, and the capital city in the Lachin district.