Azerbaijani Government Says It Has Settled 3,000 People in Occupied Artsakh’s Capital Stepanakert

Azerbaijani authorities have announced the settlement of 3,000 Azeri occupiers in Stepanakert, the capital of the occupied Artsakh Republic (also known as Nagorno-Karabakh). This information was disclosed by Elchin Yusubov, the Azerbaijani president’s special representative in occupied Stepanakert, as reported by APA.

The settlement process, which includes both Stepanakert and nearby regions, is set to continue in the near future. According to Yusubov, the new residents are primarily employees working for the Azerbaijani state and in various business enterprises within the occupied area. Presently, 43 facilities are operational in Stepanakert, employing 322 people. The Azerbaijani government plans to establish an additional 37 facilities soon, which will further increase employment and population in the occupied region.

A significant development in the settlement plan is the proposed opening of Karabakh University. This educational institution is expected to boost the number of Azerbaijani residents in Artsakh.

This settlement comes nine months after Azerbaijan's complete occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, which led to the forced mass exodus of approximately 140,000 indigenous Armenians. The region, historically known as Artsakh to Armenians, has been a point of conflict for decades, with Azerbaijan claiming rights over the territory despite its historical Armenian background.

The settlement of Azerbaijani nationals in Stepanakert is seen by many as a move to solidify Azerbaijan's control over the region and to change the demographic composition of the area. The Azerbaijani government plans to erase any trace of Armenianness from the region.

As the Azeri settlement progresses, the future of Nagorno-Karabakh remains uncertain. The establishment of new facilities and institutions like Karabakh University will undoubtedly impact the region's socio-economic landscape. However, the long-term effects on peace and reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan are yet to be seen.