The article "Nagorno-Karabakh: the world should have seen this crisis coming – and it’s not over yet" was published on September 29, 2023 and updated on October 2, 2023 by Svante Lundgren.
For the first time in two millennia, the region of Nagorno-Karabakh will be empty of Armenians due to their forced exodus following the Azerbaijani attack on September 19.
This was a tragedy that could have been avoided. Armenians and those who have followed the conflict have long warned that this was coming.
The 9 month long illegal Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin corridor, the only connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, led to acute shortages of food, petrol and medicine in the region. Western states condemned the blockade without backing it up with sanctions or any measures of force.
Svante argues: "the aggressive plans of authoritarian states are not stopped by condemnations and appeals. Much sharper measures are required. [...] Resolute action from the west is needed to ensure that the aggressive Azeri regime does not, in its current victory rush, embark on new military adventures."
