Artsakh Fact Sheet 2017 FINAL DRAFT.Indd
Republic of Artsakh (formely known as the Nagorno Karabakh Republic) T E Profi le and Geographic LocaƟ on E Territory: 4,457 sq. miles (11,500 sq. km.) PopulaƟ on: 146,600 (2012 est.) Religion: Armenian Apostolic Chris an Language: Armenian H Capital: Stepanakert Largest CiƟ es: Shushi, Martuni, Martakert, Hadrut, Askeran S Artsakh, formerly known as Nagorno Karabakh, one of the 15 provinces of historic Armenia, is located in the eastern Armenian Plateau. Geographically, the Artsakh Republic defi nes itself within administra ve borders of the former Soviet Union’s Region of Mountainous Karabakh, and the adjacent Shahumyan district. T When the Russian Empire fell apart in 1918, Armenia and Artsakh were impeded from comple ng their unifi ca on. Confronted by the genocidal forces of the O oman Empire, Armenia was fi gh ng for its very existence. Artsakh was C mostly le to defend itself against Azerbaijani forces allied with the O oman Turks. When the Russian Communists took over the South Caucasus, instead of resolving the ethnic tensions that had infl amed the region, they perpetuated the divisions as a method of controlling the remote nominal republics of the Soviet Union. A Recognizing that 95 percent of the popula on of Nagorno Karabakh was Armenian, the Soviet regime granted them autonomy but within Soviet Azerbaijan. Exercising the op on of securing its FACT SHEET F FACT sovereignty during the last liberalizing years of the Soviet era, the popula on of Nagorno Karabakh declared its own self-governing republic per exis ng law. Azerbaijan, with its Muslim majority popula on, responded by declaring war against the Chris an Armenians.
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