Second Nagorno-Karabakh War#Turkish-Russian peacekeeping

The war has been referred to as the "Second Nagorno-Karabakh War",{{Cite news|first1=Jakob|last1=Hedenskog|first2=Aron|last2=Lund|first3=Johan|last3=Norberg|title=The End of the Second Karabakh War: New realities in the South Caucasus|location=Stockholm|work=Swedish Defence Research Agency}}{{Cite web|first=Oleg|last=Chupryna|url=https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/geopolitical-outcomes-of-the-second-nagorno-karabakh-war/|title=Geopolitical Outcomes of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War|date=14 December 2020|work=Geopolitical Monitor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112073759/https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/geopolitical-outcomes-of-the-second-nagorno-karabakh-war/|archive-date=12 January 2021|access-date=9 January 2021|url-status=bot: unknown}} and has also been called the "44-Day War" in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.{{Cite web|first=Nikol|last=Pashinyan|author-link=Nikol Pashinyan|url=https://www.primeminister.am/hy/interviews-and-press-conferences/item/2021/01/04/Nikol-Pashinyan-04-01/|title=44-օրյա պատերազմի ծագումը. վարչապետ Նիկոլ Փաշինյանի հոդվածը|date=4 January 2021|work=Prime Minister of Armenia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104153240/https://www.primeminister.am/hy/interviews-and-press-conferences/item/2021/01/04/Nikol-Pashinyan-04-01#photos|archive-date=4 January 2021|access-date=5 January 2021|language=hy|url-status=bot: unknown}}{{Cite news|url=https://xalqqazeti.com/az/news/63147|title=Azərbaycan Ordusu 44 günlük müharibədə tarixi Qələbə əldə etdi|date=11 November 2020|newspaper=Khalg Gazeti|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115230030/https://xalqqazeti.com/az/news/63147|archive-date=15 January 2021|access-date=5 January 2021|language=az|url-status=bot: unknown}}

In Armenia and Artsakh, it has been called the "Second Artsakh War" ({{langx|hy|Արցախյան երկրորդ պատերազմ|translit=Arts'akhyan yerkrord paterazm}}),{{cite web|url=http://geopolitics.am/archives/15697|title=Արցախյան երկրորդ պատերազմի արդյունքները. ստորագրված փաստաթուղթն ու հետևությունները|work=GeoPolitics.am|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726224124/http://geopolitics.am/archives/15697|archive-date=26 July 2022|language=hy|access-date=13 October 2022|url-status=bot: unknown}}{{cite web|url=https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2020/12/15/%D4%B1%D6%80%D6%81%D5%A1%D5%AD%D5%B5%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AF%D6%80%D5%B8%D6%80%D5%A4-%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A6%D5%B4%D5%A8%D5%9D-%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A2-%D5%AC%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D6%80%D5%B8%D5%B2%D5%AB-%D5%A1%D5%B9%D6%84%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%B8%D5%BE-%D6%81%D5%B8%D6%82%D6%81%D5%A1%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A4%D5%A5%D5%BD-%D5%84%D5%B8%D5%BD%D5%AF%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B4/378801|title=Արցախյան երկրորդ պատերազմը՝ արաբ լրագրողի աչքերով. ցուցահանդես Մոսկվայում|work=1lurer.am|date=15 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726051412/https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2020/12/15/%D4%B1%D6%80%D6%81%D5%A1%D5%AD%D5%B5%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AF%D6%80%D5%B8%D6%80%D5%A4-%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A6%D5%B4%D5%A8%D5%9D-%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A2-%D5%AC%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D6%80%D5%B8%D5%B2%D5%AB-%D5%A1%D5%B9%D6%84%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%B8%D5%BE-%D6%81%D5%B8%D6%82%D6%81%D5%A1%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A4%D5%A5%D5%BD-%D5%84%D5%B8%D5%BD%D5%AF%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B4/378801|archive-date=26 July 2022|language=hy|access-date=13 October 2022|url-status=bot: unknown}} "Patriotic War"{{cite web|url=https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2020/10/04/ՀԱՂԹԵԼՈՒԵՆՔ-Սա-հայրենական-սուրբ-պատերազմ-է-Արայիկ-Հարությունյան/326510|title=#ՀԱՂԹԵԼՈՒԵՆՔ. Սա հայրենական սուրբ պատերազմ է. Արայիկ Հարությունյան|date=4 October 2020|website=www.1lurer.am}} and the "Fight for Survival" ({{langx|hy|Գոյամարտ|Goyamart}}).{{Cite web |last1=Toghramadjian |first1=Hagop |last2=Bailey |first2=Kathleen |date=13 November 2020 |title=It's Time to Get Real About U.S. Interests in the South Caucasus |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/10/its-time-to-get-real-about-u-s-interests-in-the-south-caucasus/ |access-date=27 January 2021 |work=National Review}}

In Azerbaijan, it has been called the "Second Karabakh War" ({{Langx|az|İkinci Qarabağ müharibəsi}}){{cite news|title=President Aliyev's brilliant leadership, wisdom ensured Azerbaijan's victory in Second Karabakh War – Sobhani|url=https://www.azernews.az/karabakh/174198.html|work=AzerNews|date=22 December 2020|access-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121032911/https://www.azernews.az/karabakh/174198.html|archive-date=21 January 2021|language=az|url-status=bot: unknown}} and "Patriotic War".{{Cite web|url=http://www.science.gov.az/news/open/14376|title=Vətən Müharibəsində dövlətimizin və ordumuzun yanındayıq|publisher=Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences|date=30 September 2020|access-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109195643/http://www.science.gov.az/news/open/14376|archive-date=9 January 2021|language=az|url-status=bot: unknown}}{{Cite web|url=https://azeridefence.com/az%C9%99rbaycanda-yeni-h%C9%99rbi-orden-medallar-v%C9%99-f%C9%99xri-ad-t%C9%99sis-edilib/|title=Azərbaycanda yeni hərbi orden, medallar və fəxri ad təsis edilib|work=AzeriDefence|date=20 November 2020|access-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114021647/https://azeridefence.com/az%c9%99rbaycanda-yeni-h%c9%99rbi-orden-medallar-v%c9%99-f%c9%99xri-ad-t%c9%99sis-edilib/|archive-date=14 January 2021|language=az|url-status=bot: unknown}} The Azerbaijani government referred to it as an "operation for peace enforcement"{{cite web |last=Mikayıloğlu |first=Ramiz |date=11 October 2020 |title=Assistant to President of Azerbaijan: "First phase of operation for peacemenforcement of Armenia was successfully completed" |url=https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/Assistant-to-President-of-Azerbaijan:-%22First-phase-of-operation-for-peaceenforcement-of-Armenia-was-successfully-completed%22-332582 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010125828/https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/Assistant-to-President-of-Azerbaijan:-%22First-phase-of-operation-for-peaceenforcement-of-Armenia-was-successfully-completed%22-332582 |archive-date=10 October 2020 |access-date=11 October 2020}} and "counter-offensive operation".{{cite web|url=https://menafn.com/1100863723/Defense-Ministry-Azerbaijan-Armys-Troops-launches-counter-offensive-operation-along-entire-front|date=29 September 2020|title=Defense Ministry: Azerbaijan Army's Troops launches counter-offensive operation along entire front|access-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019132400/https://menafn.com/1100863723/Defense-Ministry-Azerbaijan-Armys-Troops-launches-counter-offensive-operation-along-entire-front|url-status=live|archive-date=19 October 2020}} It later announced it had initiated military operations under the code-name "Operation Iron Fist" ({{langx|az|Dəmir Yumruq əməliyyatı}}).{{Cite web|url=https://report.az/qarabag/azerbaycan-ordusu-dusmene-qarsi-emeliyyatlari-demir-yumruq-adi-altinda-kecirib/|title=Azərbaycan Ordusu düşmənə qarşı əməliyyatları "Dəmir yumruq" adı altında keçirib|work=Report Information Agency|date=10 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110085220/https://report.az/qarabag/azerbaycan-ordusu-dusmene-qarsi-emeliyyatlari-demir-yumruq-adi-altinda-kecirib/|archive-date=10 January 2021|access-date=15 January 2021|language=az|url-status=bot: unknown}}

{{Further|History of Nagorno-Karabakh|Nagorno-Karabakh conflict}}

The territorial ownership of Nagorno-Karabakh is fiercely contested between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. The current conflict has its roots in events following World War I and today the region is de jure part of Azerbaijan, although large parts were de facto held by the internationally unrecognised Republic of Artsakh, which is supported by Armenia.{{cite news|date=6 April 2016|title=Nagorno-Karabakh profile|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18270325|access-date=6 October 2020}}

{{Main|Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast}}

During the Soviet era, the predominantly Armenian-populated region was governed as an autonomous oblast within the Azerbaijan SSR.{{cite web|title=UNHCR publication for CIS Conference (Displacement in the CIS) – Conflicts in the Caucasus|url=https://www.unhcr.org/publications/refugeemag/3b5583fd4/unhcr-publication-cis-conference-displacement-cis-conflicts-caucasus.html|website=UNHCR|publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|access-date=18 November 2020|date=1 May 1996|quote=This mountain enclave, mostly inhabited by people of Armenian language and origin, had been placed under Azerbaijan's jurisdiction in the 1920s, and was entirely surrounded by villages populated by Azeris.}} As the Soviet Union began to disintegrate during the late 1980s the question of Nagorno-Karabakh's status re-emerged, and on 20 February 1988 the parliament of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast passed a resolution requesting transfer of the oblast from the Azerbaijan SSR to the Armenian SSR. Azerbaijan rejected the request several times,{{cite book|last=De Waal|first=Thomas|url=https://catalogue.solent.ac.uk/openurl/44SSU_INST/44SSU_INST:VU1?u.ignore_date_coverage=true&rft.mms_id=9997123365104796|title=Black Garden Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War, 10th Year Anniversary Edition, Revised and Updated|date=2013|isbn=978-0-8147-7082-5|oclc=1154881834}} and ethnic violence began shortly thereafter with a series of pogroms between 1988 and 1990 against Armenians in Sumgait, Ganja and Baku,{{cite news |title=The fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh reflects decades of conflict |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/10/29/the-fighting-in-nagorno-karabakh-reflects-decades-of-conflict |access-date=2 April 2021 |newspaper=The Economist |date=29 October 2020}}{{cite book|last=de Waal|first=Thomas|title=Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War|title-link=Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War|publisher=New York University Press|year=2003|isbn=978-0-8147-1945-9|location=New York|page=[https://archive.org/details/blackgardenarmen00waal/page/n104 90]|quote=Around ninety Armenians died in the Baku pogroms.|author-link=Thomas de Waal}}{{cite web |last=Parks |first=Michael |date=27 November 1988 |title=Soviet Tells of Blocking Slaughter of Armenians: General Reports His Soldiers Have Suppressed Dozens of Massacre Attempts by Azerbaijanis |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-27-mn-1060-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite book|last=Broers|first=Laurence|title=Armenia and Azerbaijan: Anatomy of Rivalry|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|year=2019|isbn=978-1-4744-5055-3|location=Edinburgh|page=18|quote=Armenians see the campaign that emerged in 1987 to unify Karabakh and Armenia as peaceful, yet met with organized pogroms killing dozens of Armenians in the Azerbaijani cities of Sumgait, Kirovabad (today's Ganja) and Baku in 1988–1990.}} and against Azerbaijanis in Gugark and Stepanakert.{{cite web|last=Barringer|first=Felicity|date=7 December 1988|title=3 More Killed in Soviet Ethnic Protest|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/07/world/3-more-killed-in-soviet-ethnic-protest.html|access-date=5 November 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite web|date=29 August 2005|title=Карабах: хронология конфликт|trans-title=Karabakh: Chronology of the conflict|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/news/newsid_3681000/3681079.stm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711104919/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/news/newsid_3681000/3681079.stm|archive-date=11 July 2012|access-date=5 November 2020|work=BBC Russian Service|publisher=BBC|language=ru|url-status=bot: unknown}}{{cite web|last=Khlystun|first=Victor|date=1 February 2001|title=10 БАЛЛОВ ПО ШКАЛЕ ПОЛИТБЮРО|trans-title=10 POINTS ON THE POLITBURO SCALE|url=https://www.trud.ru/article/01-02-2001/18874_10_ballov_po_shkale_politbjuro.html|access-date=5 November 2020|newspaper=Trud|language=ru}}{{cite journal|last=Papyan|first=Mane|date=22 April 2015|title=Gugark after Sumgait|url=https://caucasusedition.net/gugark-after-sumgait/|journal=Caucasus Edition|language=ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125050219/https://caucasusedition.net/gugark-after-sumgait/|archive-date=25 November 2020|access-date=5 November 2020|url-status=bot: unknown}} Following the revocation of Nagorno-Karabakh's autonomous status, an independence referendum was held in the region on 10 December 1991. The referendum was boycotted by the Azerbaijani population, which then constituted around 22.8% of the region's population; 99.8% of participants voted in favour. In early 1992, following the Soviet Union's collapse, the region descended into outright war.{{dead link|date=January 2021}}

{{Main|First Nagorno-Karabakh War}}

File:Karabakh ethnic map.png and the displacement of the region's Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian population. ([http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/commonwealth/ethnocaucasus.jpg See entire map])]]

The First Nagorno-Karabakh War resulted in the displacement of approximately 725,000 Azerbaijanis and 300,000–500,000 Armenians from both Azerbaijan and Armenia.{{cite news|last=Haider|first=Hans|title=Gefährliche Töne im "Frozen War"|url=https://www.wienerzeitung.at/nachrichten/welt-europa/weltpolitik/513109_Gefaehrliche-Toene-im-Frozen-War.html|access-date=18 November 2020|work=Wiener Zeitung|date=2 January 2013|language=de}} The 1994 Bishkek Protocol brought the fighting to an end and resulted in significant Armenian territorial gains: in addition to controlling most of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Republic of Artsakh also occupied the surrounding Azerbaijani-populated districts of Agdam, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Kalbajar, Qubadli, Lachin and Zangilan.{{cite web|title=Military occupation of Azerbaijan by Armenia|url=http://www.rulac.org/browse/conflicts/military-occupation-of-azerbaijan-by-armenia|access-date=27 September 2020|publisher=Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts Project}} The terms of the Bishkek agreement produced a frozen conflict,{{cite news|last=Grant|first=Stan|title=A hundred-year 'frozen conflict' has restarted — and it's a pattern we've seen before|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-30/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-represents-a-war-of-identity/12713140|access-date=18 November 2020|work=ABC News (Australia)|date=29 September 2020}} and long-standing international mediation attempts to create a peace process were initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group in 1994, with the interrupted Madrid Principles being the most recent iteration prior to the 2020 war.{{cite web|last=Palmer|first=James|title=Why Are Armenia and Azerbaijan Heading to War?|date=28 September 2020 |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/28/why-are-armenia-azerbaijan-heading-to-war-nagorno-karabakh/|access-date=8 October 2020|publisher=Foreign Policy}}{{cite web |author= |date=2 October 2020 |title=Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group |url=https://www.osce.org/minsk-group/465711 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019120749/https://www.osce.org/minsk-group/465711 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |access-date=9 October 2020 |publisher=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe}} The United Nations Security Council adopted four resolutions in 1993 calling for the withdrawal of "occupying forces" from the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh,Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884:

• {{cite web|url=http://unscr.com/files/1993/00822.pdf|title=Resolution 822 (1993)|date=30 April 1993|website=unscr.com|publisher=United Nations Security Council}}
• {{cite web|url=http://unscr.com/files/1993/00853.pdf|title=Resolution 853 (1993)|date=29 July 1993|website=unscr.com|publisher=United Nations Security Council}}
• {{cite web|url=http://unscr.com/files/1993/00874.pdf|title=Resolution 874 (1993)|date=14 October 1993|website=unscr.com|publisher=United Nations Security Council}}
• {{cite web|url=http://unscr.com/files/1993/00884.pdf|date=12 November 1993|title=Resolution 884 (1993)|website=unscr.com|publisher=United Nations Security Council}}

and in 2008 the General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces,{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2008/ga10693.doc.htm|title=General Assembly adopts resolution reaffirming territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, demanding withdrawal of all Armenian forces|date=14 March 2008|publisher=United Nations}} although the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and USA, voted against it.{{cite web|url=https://undocs.org/en/A/62/PV.86|title=United Nations A/62/PV.86 General Assembly Sixty-second session|date=14 March 2008|website=undocs.org|publisher=United Nations}}

{{See also|July 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes}}

For three decades multiple violations of the ceasefire occurred, the most serious being the four-day 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.{{cite web|title=Armenia/Azerbaijan – Border clashes between the two countries (15 July 2020)|url=https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/armenia/news/article/armenia-azerbaijan-border-clashes-between-the-two-countries-15-jul-2020|publisher=Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)|access-date=27 September 2020}} Surveys indicated that the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh did not want to be part of Azerbaijan{{cite web|last1=Toal|first1=Gerard|last2=O’Loughlin|first2=John|last3=Bakke|first3=Kristin M.|title=Nagorno-Karabakh: what do residents of the contested territory want for their future?|date=12 October 2020 |url=http://theconversation.com/nagorno-karabakh-what-do-residents-of-the-contested-territory-want-for-their-future-147690|access-date=15 October 2020|publisher=The Conversation}} and in 2020 the Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan announced plans to make Shusha, a city of historical and cultural significance to both Armenians and Azerbaijanis, Artsakh's new capital. In August of the same year the government of Artsakh moved the country's parliament to Shusha, escalating tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.{{Cite web |first=Carlotta |last=Gall |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/world/europe/armenia-azerbaijan-nagorno-karabakh.html |title=Roots of War: When Armenia Talked Tough, Azerbaijan Took Action |date=27 October 2020 |access-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101214912/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/world/europe/armenia-azerbaijan-nagorno-karabakh.html |archive-date=1 January 2021 |work=The New York Times |url-status=bot: unknown }} Further skirmishes occurred on the border between the two countries in July 2020. Thousands of Azerbaijanis rallied for war against Armenia in response, and Turkey voiced its firm support for Azerbaijan.{{cite news|last1=Weise|first1=Zia|last2=Cienski|first2=Jan|last3=Herszenhorn|first3=David M.|date=28 September 2020|title=The Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict explained|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-explained-armenia-azerbaijan/|publisher=Politico|access-date=29 September 2020}} On 29 July 2020, Azerbaijan conducted a series of military exercises that lasted from 29 July to 10 August 2020,{{cite web|title=Игра мускулами: зачем Азербайджан проводит учения с Турцией|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2020/07/28_a_13168861.shtml|access-date=27 September 2020|website=gazeta.Ru|date=28 July 2020 |language=ru}} followed by further exercises in early September with the involvement of Turkey.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/turkey-azerbaijan-military-drills-intimidate-armenia-president-aliyev-says|title=Turkey-Azerbaijan military drills intimidate Armenia, President Aliyev says|publisher=Daily Sabah|date=20 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020}} Prior to the resumption of hostilities, allegations emerged that Turkey had facilitated the transfer of hundreds of Syrian National Army members from the Hamza Division to Azerbaijan.{{cite web|first=Ron|last=Synovitz|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/are-syrian-mercenaries-helping-azerbaijan-fight-for-nagorno-karabakh-/30895331.html|title=Are Syrian Mercenaries Helping Azerbaijan Fight For Nagorno-Karabakh?|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=15 October 2020|access-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022075555/https://www.rferl.org/a/are-syrian-mercenaries-helping-azerbaijan-fight-for-nagorno-karabakh-/30895331.html|archive-date=22 October 2020|url-status=bot: unknown}} Baku denied the involvement of foreign fighters.{{cite web|date=3 October 2020|title=Azerbaijani President: There is not a single evidence of any foreign presence in Azerbaijan|url=https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/Azerbaijani-President:-There-is-not-a-single-evidence-of-any-foreign-presence-in-Azerbaijan-331951|access-date=3 October 2020|website=apa.az|quote=There is not a single evidence of any foreign presence in Azerbaijan. We have capable army. We have enough people in our army, we have enough people in our reserves. I announced a partial mobilization, which will allow us to involve tens of thousands of reservists. If necessary, so we don't need it. Armenia needs it, because Armenian population is declining. And it is only two million people.}}

{{Main|Timeline of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War}}

File:September 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes.png

The conflict was characterised by the widespread use of combat drones, particularly by Azerbaijan,{{cite news|title=The Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict hints at the future of war|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/10/10/the-azerbaijan-armenia-conflict-hints-at-the-future-of-war|access-date=9 October 2020|issn=0013-0613}} as well as heavy artillery barrages, rocket attacks and trench warfare.{{cite web|first=Bethan|last=McKernan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/oct/13/trench-warfare-drones-and-cowering-civilians-on-the-ground-in-nagorno-karabakh|title=Trench warfare, drones and cowering civilians: on the ground in Nagorno-Karabakh|date=13 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227021636/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/oct/13/trench-warfare-drones-and-cowering-civilians-on-the-ground-in-nagorno-karabakh|archive-date=27 December 2020|access-date=9 January 2021|work=The Guardian|url-status=bot: unknown}} Throughout the campaign, Azerbaijan relied heavily on drone strikes against Armenian/Artsakh forces, inflicting heavy losses upon Armenian tanks, artillery, air defence systems and military personnel, although some Azerbaijani drones were shot down.{{cite web|last=Bulos|first=Nabih|date=15 October 2020|title=A new weapon complicates an old war in Nagorno-Karabakh|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-10-15/drones-complicates-war-armenia-azerbaijan-nagorno-karabakh|access-date=28 October 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web|last=Forestier-Walker|first=Robin|title=Nagorno-Karabakh: New weapons for an old conflict spell danger|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/10/13/nagorno-karabakh-new-weapons-for-an-old-conflict-spell-danger|access-date=15 October 2020|website=aljazeera.com}} It also featured the deployment of cluster munitions, which are banned by the majority of the international community but not by Armenia or Azerbaijan.{{cite web|title=United Nations Treaty Collection|url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx|access-date=5 October 2020|website=treaties.un.org|archive-date=18 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618150323/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx|url-status=dead}} Both Armenia{{Cite web|date=30 October 2020|title=Armenia: Cluster Munitions Kill Civilians in Azerbaijan|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/10/30/armenia-cluster-munitions-kill-civilians-azerbaijan|access-date=21 November 2020|website=Human Rights Watch}} and Azerbaijan{{cite news|last=Freeman|first=Colin|date=5 October 2020|title=Azerbaijan dropping cluster bombs on civilian areas in war with Armenia|journal=Daily Telegraph|publisher=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/10/05/azerbaijan-dropping-cluster-bombs-civilian-areas-war-armenia/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/10/05/azerbaijan-dropping-cluster-bombs-civilian-areas-war-armenia/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=25 October 2020|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}} used cluster munitions against civilian areas outside of the conflict zone.{{cite web|title=Armenia/Azerbaijan: Civilians must be protected from use of banned cluster bombs|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/10/armenia-azerbaijan-civilians-must-be-protected-from-use-of-banned-cluster-bombs/|access-date=25 October 2020|website=amnesty.org|date=5 October 2020}} A series of missile attacks on Ganja, Azerbaijan inflicted mass civilian casualties, as did artillery strikes on Stepanakert, Artsakh's capital.{{cite web |title=Azerbaijan: Unlawful Strikes in Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/11/azerbaijan-unlawful-strikes-nagorno-karabakh |website=Human Rights Watch |access-date=3 April 2021 |format=Report |date=11 December 2020}} Much of Stepanakert's population fled during the course of the fighting.{{cite web|last=Hauer|first=Neil|title=Nagorno-Karabakh: Sirens, shelling and shelters in Stepanakert|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/16/nagorno-karabakh-sirens-shelling-and-shelters-in-stepanakert|access-date=19 October 2020|website=aljazeera.com}} The conflict was accompanied by coordinated attempts to spread misleading content and disinformation via social media and the internet.{{Cite news |last1=Giles |first1=Christopher |last2=Bhat |first2=Upasana |date=26 October 2020 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh: The Armenian-Azeri 'information wars' |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54614392 |access-date=26 October 2020}}

The conflict began with an Azerbaijani ground offensive that included armoured formations, supported by artillery and drones, including loitering munitions. Armenian and Artsakh troops were forced back from their first line of defence in Artsakh's southeast and northern regions, but inflicted significant losses on Azerbaijani armoured formations with anti-tank guided missiles and artillery, destroying dozens of vehicles. Azerbaijan made heavy use of drones in strikes against Armenian air defences, taking out 13 short-range surface-to-air missile systems. Azerbaijani forces used drones to systematically isolate and destroy Armenian/Artsakh positions. Reconnaissance drones would locate a military position on the front lines and the placement of reserve forces, after which the position would be shelled along with roads and bridges that could potentially be used by the reserves to reach the position. After the Armenian/Artsakh position had been extensively shelled and cut off from reinforcement, the Azerbaijanis would move in superior forces to overwhelm it. This tactic was repeatedly used to gradually overrun Armenian and Artsakh positions.{{Cite web |last=Gressel |first=Gustav |date=24 November 2020 |title=Military lessons from Nagorno-Karabakh: Reason for Europe to worry |url=https://ecfr.eu/article/military-lessons-from-nagorno-karabakh-reason-for-europe-to-worry/ |website=ECFR}} Azerbaijani troops managed to make limited gains in the south in the first three days of the conflict. For the next three days, both sides largely exchanged fire from fixed positions. In the north, Armenian/Artsakh forces counterattacked, managing to retake some ground. Their largest counterattack took place on the fourth day, but incurred heavy losses when their armour and artillery units were exposed to Azerbaijani attack drones, loitering munitions, and reconnaissance drones spotting for Azerbaijani artillery as they manoeuvred in the open.

File:2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war every day (Liveuamap).webm

Azerbaijan targeted infrastructure throughout Artsakh starting on the first day of the war, including the use of rocket artillery and cluster munitions against Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh, and a missile strike against a bridge in the Lachin Corridor linking Armenia with Artsakh. On the 6th day of the war, Armenia/Artsakh targeted Ganja for the first of four times with ballistic missiles, nominally targeting the military portion of Ganja International Airport but instead hitting residential areas. On the morning of the seventh day, Azerbaijan launched a major offensive. The Azerbaijani Army's First, Second, and Third Army Corps, reinforced by reservists from the Fourth Army Corps, began an advance in the north, making some territorial gains, but the Azerbaijani advance stalled.

Most of the fighting subsequently shifted to the south, in terrain that is relatively flat and underpopulated as compared to the mountainous north. Azerbaijani forces launched offensives toward Jabrayil and Füzuli, managing to break through the multi-layered Armenian/Artsakh defensive lines and recapture a stretch of territory held by Armenian troops as a buffer zone, but the fighting subsequently stalled.

File:2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War.svg

After the shelling of Martuni,{{cite news|date=15 October 2020|title=Taking Up Arms in Nagorno-Karabackh|publisher=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-10-15/taking-up-arms-in-nagorno-karabackh-video}} Artsakh authorities began mobilising civilians.{{cite web|date=15 October 2020|title=Nagorno-Karabakh volunteers get weapons as clashes intensify|website=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/azerbaijan-armenia-c016829766e7f8a84708be53b6fcef21|access-date=15 October 2020|agency=AP NEWS}} Just before 04:00 (00:00 UTC) on 10 October 2020, Russia reported that both Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed on a humanitarian ceasefire after ten hours of talks in Moscow (the Moscow Statement) and announced that both would enter "substantive" talks.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} After the declared ceasefire, the President of Artsakh admitted Azerbaijan had been able to achieve some success, moving the front deep into Artsakh territory;{{cite news|date=14 October 2020|title=Конфликт в Карабахе: Азербайджан ударил по территории Армении|language=ru|publisher=BBC Russian Service|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/live/news-54317944?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:189add94-ce6d-4bcb-898a-6fb236258776|access-date=14 October 2020}} the Armenian Prime Minister announced that Armenian forces had conducted a "partial retreat".{{cite web|date=14 October 2020|title=Пашинян заявил о частичном отступлении в Карабахе|url=https://ria.ru/20201014/karabakh-1579764261.html|access-date=15 October 2020|publisher=RIA Novosti|language=ru}}

The ceasefire quickly broke down and the Azerbaijani advance continued. Within days Azerbaijan announced the capture of dozens of villages on the southern front.{{Cite news |last=Chiragov |first=Fuad |date=19 October 2020 |title=Azerbaijan Makes Strategic Advances Along Karabakh's Northern, Southern Flanks |url=https://jamestown.org/program/azerbaijan-makes-strategic-advances-along-karabakhs-northern-southern-flanks/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Jamestown |language=en-US}} A second ceasefire attempt midnight 17 October 2020 was also ignored.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/live/news-54686682?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:99078f11-17be-44e3-9acc-d586b733b3fe|title=Минобороны Азербайджана опубликовало еще одно видео из взятого села|date=26 October 2020|access-date=26 October 2020|publisher=BBC Russian Service|language=ru}} Azerbaijan announced the capture of Jabrayil on 9 October 2020 and Füzuli on 17 October 2020. Azerbaijani troops also captured the Khoda Afarin Dam and Khodaafarin Bridges. Azerbaijan announced that the border area with Iran was fully secured with the capture of Agbend on 22 October 2020.{{cite web|title=Azerbaijan claims "full control" of border with Iran|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/azerbaijan-claims-full-control-of-border-with-iran/671484|access-date=28 October 2020|website=timesnownews.com|date=22 October 2020 }} Azerbaijani forces then turned northwest, advancing towards the Lachin corridor, the sole highway between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, putting it within artillery range. According to Artsakh, a counterattack repelled forward elements of the Azerbaijani force and pushed them back. Armenian/Artsakh resistance had managed to halt the Azerbaijani advance to within 25 kilometres of the Lachin corridor by 26 October 2020. Artsakh troops who had retreated into the mountains and forests began launching small-unit attacks against exposed Azerbaijani infantry and armour, and Armenian forces launched a counteroffensive near the far southwestern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.{{Cite web |last=Giragosian |first=Richard |date=2020-10-26 |title=Azerbaijan's next move will make or break Karabakh war |url=https://asiatimes.com/2020/10/azerbaijans-next-move-will-make-or-break-karabakh-war/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Asia Times |language=en-US}} On 26 October 2020, a US-brokered ceasefire came into effect, but fighting resumed within minutes.{{Cite news |date=2020-10-25 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: US-brokered ceasefire frays soon after starting |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54686284 |access-date=2023-03-25}}{{Cite web |last=Roblin |first=Sebastien |title=Despite Ceasefire, Fate Of Nagorno-Karabakh May Turn On The Lachin Corridor |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2020/10/26/despite-ceasefire-fate-of-the-nagorno-karabakh-may-turn-on-the-lachin-corridor/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Three days later, the Artsakh authorities stated that the Azerbaijani forces were {{cvt|5|km}} from Shusha.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/live/news-54686682?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:083b4e4a-bb84-48ca-8f7b-15c5cd831799|title=Глава НКР заявил, что азербайджанская армия – в пяти километрах от Шуши|date=29 October 2020|access-date=29 October 2020|publisher=BBC Russian Service|language=ru}} On 8 November 2020, Azerbaijani forces seized Shusha,{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/c9dab829-3b4a-4464-a0c3-4d5c51aa1b0e|title=Azerbaijan captures strategic city in Nagorno-Karabakh|date=9 November 2020|publisher=Financial Times}} the second-largest city in Artsakh before the war, located 15 kilometres from Stepanakert, the republic's capital.{{cite news|last1=Hovhannisyan|first1=Nvard|last2=Bagirova|first2=Nailia|date=9 November 2020|title=Fierce fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azeris say they advance|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan/fighting-rages-around-strategic-city-in-nagorno-karabakh-armenia-says-idUSKBN27P1FL|access-date=9 November 2020}}

Although the amount of territory contested was relatively restricted, the conflict impacted the wider region, in part due to the type of munitions deployed. Shells and rockets landed in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, although no damage was reported,{{cite news|last=Hashemzadeh|first=Mehri|title=اصابت راکت به روستای خلف بیگلو خسارت مالی و جانی نداشت|date=27 September 2020|url=https://www.isna.ir/news/99070604539/|editor-last=Teymouri|editor-first=Robab|publisher=Iranian Students News Agency|language=fa|access-date=28 September 2020}}{{cite web|title=Rocket attack on northwest of Iran border|date=October 2020 |publisher=Islamic World News|url=https://english.iswnews.com/15568/rocket-attack-on-northwest-of-iran-border/|access-date=1 October 2020|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002122159/https://english.iswnews.com/15568/rocket-attack-on-northwest-of-iran-border/|url-status=live}} and Iran reported that several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) had been downed or had crashed within its territory.{{cite web |last=Israel |first=David |date=13 October 2020 |title=Iran Reports Crash of Israeli-Made Azeri Drone in Clashes with Armenia |url=https://www.jewishpress.com/news/middle-east/iran-news/iran-reports-crash-of-israeli-made-azeri-drone-in-clashes-with-armenia/2020/10/13/ |publisher=Jewish Press}}{{cite web |last= |date=30 September 2020 |title=Iran shoots down suspected Azerbaijani drone |url=https://geopolitics.news/euroasia/iran-shoots-down-suspected-azerbaijani-drone/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010123414/https://geopolitics.news/euroasia/iran-shoots-down-suspected-azerbaijani-drone/ |archive-date=10 October 2020 |access-date=5 October 2020 |publisher=Geopolitics News}}{{cite web|title='Мы предупреждали Алиева!': Иран сбил азербайджанский военный самолёт|url=https://avia.pro/news/my-preduprezhdali-alieva-iran-sbil-azerbaydzhanskiy-voennyy-samolyot|access-date=5 October 2020|website=avia.pro|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002115459/https://avia.pro/news/my-preduprezhdali-alieva-iran-sbil-azerbaydzhanskiy-voennyy-samolyot|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last= |date=29 September 2020 |title=Iran confirms its air defenses shot down foreign drone in East Azerbaijan |url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iran-confirms-its-air-defenses-shot-down-foreign-drone-in-east-azerbaijan/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003072747/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iran-confirms-its-air-defenses-shot-down-foreign-drone-in-east-azerbaijan/ |archive-date=3 October 2020 |access-date=30 September 2020 |publisher=Al-Masdar News}} Georgia stated that two UAVs had crashed in its Kakheti Province.{{cite news|url=https://police.ge/en/shinagan-saqmeta-saministros-gantskhadeba/14025|title=Statement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs|publisher=Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia|access-date=7 October 2020|date=7 October 2020|archive-date=10 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010123414/https://police.ge/en/shinagan-saqmeta-saministros-gantskhadeba/14025|url-status=live}}

{{Main|2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement}}

[[File:2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire map.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|Map of the ceasefire agreement

{{legend|#B0EBA1|Azerbaijan outside of the conflict zone}}

{{legend|#FFB380|Armenia}}

{{legend|#37C871|Areas captured by Azerbaijan during the war, to stay under its control}}

{{legend|#AFE9DD|Agdam District: evacuated by Armenia by 20 November{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/nagorno-karabakh-azeri-army-enters-first-territory-ceded-by-armenia/a-55671735|title=Nagorno-Karabakh: Azeri army enters first territory ceded by Armenia|publisher=Deutsche Welle|website=DW.com|date=20 November 2020|access-date=23 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/20/azerbaijan-army-enters-district-handed-over-by-armenia|title=Azerbaijan enters Nagorno-Karabakh district after peace deal|publisher=Al Jazeera|website=AlJazeera.com|date=20 November 2020|access-date=23 November 2020}}}}

{{legend|#87DECD|Kalbajar District: evacuated by Armenia by 25 November{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijani-forces-enter-second-district-returned-by-armenia-under-nagorno-karabakh-truce/30967755.html|title=Azerbaijani Forces Reclaim Second District From Armenians Under Nagorno-Karabakh Truce|website=RFERL.org|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=25 November 2020|access-date=25 November 2020}}}}

{{legend|#D7F4EE|Lachin District: evacuated by Armenia by 1 December{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijani-forces-enter-third-district-under-nagorno-karabakh-truce/30977052.html|title=Azerbaijani Forces Enter Third District Under Nagorno-Karabakh Truce|date=1 December 2020|website=RFERL.org|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}}}

{{legend|#FFCCAA|Part of Nagorno-Karabakh remaining under the control of Artsakh}}

{{legend|#BA8895|Lachin corridor, monitored by Russian peacekeepers}}

{{legend-line|darkred solid 2px|Access roads into Nagorno-Karabakh}}

{{legend-line|lightgreen solid 2px| All economic and transport connections in the region to be unblocked, including transport connections between Nakhchivan and rest of Azerbaijan (arrow's hypothetical location chosen by a Wikipedia user, and not defined by the statement itself)}}

{{legend-line|black dotted 2px|Line of contact before the 2020 conflict.}}

{{legend-line|black dashed 1.5px|Other areas claimed by Artsakh}}

]]

On 9 November 2020, in the aftermath of the capture of Shusha, a ceasefire agreement was signed by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, ending all hostilities in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from 10 November 2020, 00:00 Moscow time. The President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, also agreed to end the hostilities.{{Cite web|last1=Losh|first1=Jack|last2=Roth|first2=Andrew|date=10 November 2020|title=Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal brokered by Moscow prompts anger in Armenia|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/10/nagorno-karabakh-armenia-pm-signs-deal-to-end-war-with-azerbaijan-and-russia|access-date=11 October 2021|website=The Guardian}}

Under the terms of the deal, both belligerent parties were to exchange prisoners of war and the bodies of the fallen. Furthermore, Armenian forces were to withdraw from Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh by 1 December 2020, while a peacekeeping force, provided by the Russian Ground Forces and led by Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov,{{cite web|url=https://www.turan.az/ext/news/2020/11/free/politics%20news/en/129784.htm|title=General Rustam Muradov is appointed Commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh|date=11 November 2020|access-date=11 November 2020|publisher=Turan Information Agency}} of just under 2,000 soldiers would be deployed for a minimum of five years along the line of contact and the Lachin corridor linking Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Additionally, Armenia undertook to "guarantee safety" of transport communication between Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave and mainland Azerbaijan in both directions, while Russia's border troops (under the Federal Security Service) were to "exercise control over the transport communication".{{cite news|date=10 November 2020|title=Заявление Президента Азербайджанской Республики, Премьер-министра Республики Армения и Президента Российской Федерации|publisher=Kremlin.ru|language=ru|url=http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64384|access-date=15 November 2020}}{{cite web|date=10 November 2020|title=Пашинян заявляет о подписании мирного соглашения|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/live/news-54686682?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:cff55216-dfba-4dc6-9a6a-bdf38d9793c7|access-date=10 November 2020|publisher=BBC Russian Service|language=ru}}{{cite news|date=10 November 2020|title=Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia sign Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54882564|access-date=10 November 2020}}

On 15 December 2020, after several weeks of cease fire, the sides finally exchanged prisoners of war. 44 Armenian and 12 Azeri prisoners were exchanged.{{Cite web|title=Armenia, Azerbaijan exchange first prisoners after war|url=https://news.yahoo.com/armenia-azerbaijan-exchange-first-prisoners-143236612.html|access-date=15 December 2020|website=Yahoo News|date=15 December 2020 }} It is unclear whether more prisoners remain in captivity on either side.

At the time of the ceasefire, Azerbaijan had retaken most of the area south of the Lachin corridor. It had also captured one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh, mostly in the south. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Azerbaijan regained control over much of its territory that had been lost to Armenia in the earlier war.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-19 |title=Armenia and Azerbaijan: A blockade that never ended and a peace deal hanging by a thread |url=https://globalvoices.org/2023/07/19/armenia-and-azerbaijan-a-blockade-that-never-ended-and-a-peace-deal-hanging-by-a-thread/ |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=Global Voices |language=en}} In total, Azerbaijan regained control of 72% of the disputed territory, including the territory captured in Nagorno-Karabakh.{{cite web |url=https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/blogs/83781/posts/45972 |title=Территориальные потери Арцаха в результате второй Карабахской войны (статистика и карты)| trans-title= Territorial losses of Artsakh as a result of the Second Karabakh War (statistics and maps)|date = 19 November 2020 |access-date=9 March 2023 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128184525/https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/blogs/83781/posts/45972 |url-status=live|first=Grant| last = Mikaelyan}} It was reported that Azerbaijan regained control of 5 cities, 4 towns, 286 villages.{{Cite web |url=https://azertag.az/xeber/Isgaldan_azad_edilmis_seher_ve_kendlerimiz-1622227 |title=İşğaldan azad edilmiş şəhər və kəndlərimiz |work=Azerbaijan State News Agency |date=1 December 2020 |access-date=16 December 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201201185921/https://azertag.az/xeber/Isgaldan_azad_edilmis_seher_ve_kendlerimiz-1622227 |archive-date=1 December 2020 |language=az }}

Since the beginning of the conflict, both Armenia and Azerbaijan declared martial law, limiting the freedom of speech. Meanwhile, a new law came into effect since October 2020 in Armenia, which prohibits negative coverage of the situation at the front.{{cite web|first=Dimitri|last=Avaliani|url=https://jam-news.net/karabakh-conflict-news-information-war-journalists-armenia-azerbaijan/|title=The (dis)information war around Karabakh|date=28 October 2020|access-date=29 October 2020|publisher=JAM News}} Restrictions have been reported on the work of international journalists in Azerbaijan, with no corresponding restrictions reported in Nagorno-Karabakh.{{cite web|date=8 October 2020|title='France is no longer an honest broker', say Azeri officials ahead of Nagorno-Karabakh talks|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20201008-france-is-no-longer-an-honest-broker-say-azeri-officials-ahead-of-nagorno-karabakh-talks|access-date=21 October 2020|publisher=France 24}}

File:Broadcasting events of the frontline. Republic Square, Yerevan, Armenia.jpg, Yerevan, on 7 October 2020.]]

On 28 September 2020, Armenia banned men aged over 18 listed in the mobilisation reserve from leaving the country.{{cite news|url=https://tass.com/armeniaazerbaij-conflict/1206133|title=Armenian cabinet bans all men from mobilization reserve aged over 18 from leaving state|website=tass.com|agency=TASS|access-date=28 September 2020|date=28 September 2020|archive-date=29 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929044004/https://tass.com/armeniaazerbaij-conflict/1206133|url-status=live}} The next day, it postponed the trial of former President Robert Kocharyan and other former officials charged in the 2008 post-election unrest case, owing to one of the defendants, the former Defence Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, going to Artsakh during the conflict.{{cite web |date=29 September 2020 |editor-last=Kocharyan |editor-first=Stepan |title=Kocharyan trial delayed as indicted ex-defense minister Seyran Ohanyan heads to Artsakh amid attack |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029400.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930163710/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029400.html |archive-date=30 September 2020 |access-date=29 September 2020 |website=armenpress.am |publisher=Armenpress}}

On 1 October 2020, the Armenian National Security Service (NSS) stated that it had arrested and charged a former high-ranking Armenian military official with treason on suspicion of spying for Azerbaijan.{{cite web |date=1 October 2020 |editor-last=Kocharyan |editor-first=Stepan |title=Armenia ex-military official charged with high treason on suspicion of spying for Azeri intelligence |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029750.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003145424/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029750.html |archive-date=3 October 2020 |access-date=1 October 2020 |website=armenpress.am |publisher=Armenpress}} Three days later, the NSS stated that it had arrested several foreign citizens on suspicion of spying.{{cite web |date=4 October 2020 |editor-last=Sirekanyan |editor-first=Tigran |title=NSS Armenia arrests foreign citizens on intelligence suspicions |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1030334.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004220058/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1030334.html |archive-date=4 October 2020 |access-date=4 October 2020 |website=armenpress.am |publisher=Armenpress}} Protesting Israeli arms sales to Azerbaijan, Armenia recalled its ambassador to Israel.{{cite news |last1=Hovhannisyan |first1=Nvard |last2=Ayyub |first2=Rami |date=1 October 2020 |title=Armenia recalls ambassador to Israel over arms sales to Azerbaijan |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-israel/armenia-recalls-ambassador-to-israel-over-arms-sales-to-azerbaijan-idUSKBN26M76L |url-status=live |access-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009224731/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-israel/armenia-recalls-ambassador-to-israel-over-arms-sales-to-azerbaijan-idUSKBN26M76L |archive-date=9 October 2020}}

On 8 October 2020, the Armenian President, Armen Sarkissian, dismissed the director of the NSS.{{cite web |date=8 October 2020 |editor-last=Harutyunyan |editor-first=Aneta |title=Director of Armenia's National Security Service dismissed |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1030826.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011140742/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1030826.html |archive-date=11 October 2020 |access-date=8 October 2020 |website=armenpress.am |publisher=Armenpress}} Subsequently, the Armenian government toughened the martial law and prohibited criticising state bodies and "propaganda aimed at disruption of the defense capacity of the country".{{cite web|url=https://jam-news.net/armenia-spy-caught-martial-law-toughened/|title=Stepanakert man detained after convincing soldiers to forfeit positions to Azerbaijani army|publisher=Jam News|date=9 October 2020|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011140742/https://jam-news.net/armenia-spy-caught-martial-law-toughened/|url-status=live}} On the same day, the Armenian MoD cancelled a Novaya Gazeta correspondent's journalistic accreditation, officially for entering Nagorno-Karabakh without accreditation.{{cite web |last=Azar |first=Il'ja |date=8 October 2020 |title=МИД Армении лишил аккредитации журналиста "Новой газеты" Илью Азара после репортажа из Нагорного Карабаха |url=https://meduza.io/amp/news/2020/10/08/mid-armenii-lishil-akkreditatsii-zhurnalista-novoy-gazety-ilyu-azara-posle-reportazha-iz-nagornogo-karabaha |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008203958/https://meduza.io/amp/news/2020/10/08/mid-armenii-lishil-akkreditatsii-zhurnalista-novoy-gazety-ilyu-azara-posle-reportazha-iz-nagornogo-karabaha |archive-date=8 October 2020 |access-date=8 October 2020 |website=meduza.io |language=ru}} On 9 October 2020, Armenia tightened its security legislation. On 21 October 2020, the Armenian Cabinet of Ministers temporarily banned the import of Turkish goods, the decision will come into force on 31 December 2020.{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20201021/armeniya-1580851789.html|title=Правительство Армении запретило импорт турецких товаров|publisher=RIA Novosti|date=21 October 2020|access-date=21 October 2020|language=ru}} The following day, the Armenian parliament passed a law to write off the debts of the Armenian servicemen wounded during the clashes and the debts of the families of those killed.{{cite web|url=https://jam-news.net/debts-have-been-written-off-for-the-families-of-servicemen-they-have-also-received-compensation/|title=Debt write-offs for soldiers' families and tax breaks for military service in Armenia|publisher=JAM News|date=22 October 2020|access-date=23 October 2020}}

On 27 October 2020, the Armenian president Armen Sarkissian dismissed the head of the counterintelligence department of the National Security Service, Major General Hovhannes Karumyan and the chief of staff of the border troops of the National Security Service Gagik Tevosyan.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/live/news-54686682?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:6b5f42eb-3695-495e-8f64-5b11e65e4b10|title=В Армении уволены начальник контрразведки и начштаба погранохраны|publisher=BBC Russian Service|date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|language=ru}} On 8 November 2020, Sarkissian yet again dismissed the interim head of the National Security Service.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/live/news-54686682?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:ad1d9282-5442-4b27-821e-159945577a65|title=В Армении снова уволен глава контрразведки|publisher=BBC Russian Service|date=8 November 2020|access-date=8 November 2020|language=ru}}

As of 8 November 2020, one Armenian activist was fined by the police for his anti-war post.{{cite web|url=https://oc-media.org/armenian-police-fine-peace-activist-over-anti-war-post/|title=Armenian police fine peace activist over anti-war post|publisher=OC Media|date=8 November 2020|access-date=8 November 2020}}

File:Azerbaijani flag in Baku during the conflict in Karabakh 30 (edited).jpg in Jafar Jabbarly Square near the 28 May station in Baku on 10 October 2020.]]

On 27 September 2020, Azerbaijani authorities restricted internet access shortly after the clashes began,{{cite news|url=https://tvrain.ru/news/vlasti_azerbajdzhana_ogranichili_dostup_k_internetu_posle_obstrelov_v_karabahe-516731/|title=Власти Азербайджана ограничили доступ к интернету после обстрелов в Карабахе|website=tvrain.ru|publisher=Dozhd|date=27 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2020|language=ru|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004151626/https://tvrain.ru/news/vlasti_azerbajdzhana_ogranichili_dostup_k_internetu_posle_obstrelov_v_karabahe-516731/|url-status=live}} stating it was "in order to prevent large-scale Armenian provocations." The government made a noticeable push to use Twitter, which was the only unblocked platform in the country. Despite the restrictions, some Azerbaijanis still used VPNs to bypass them.{{cite news |last=Pearce |first=Katy |date=4 December 2020 |title=While Armenia and Azerbaijan fought over Nagorno-Karabakh, their citizens battled on social media |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/04/while-armenia-azerbaijan-fought-over-nagorno-karabakh-their-citizens-battled-social-media/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325170506/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/04/while-armenia-azerbaijan-fought-over-nagorno-karabakh-their-citizens-battled-social-media/ |archive-date=25 March 2023}} The National Assembly of Azerbaijan declared a curfew in Baku, Ganja, Goygol, Yevlakh and a number of districts from midnight on 28 September 2020,{{cite web|title=Azərbaycanda komendant saatı elan olundu|url=https://www.azerbaycan24.com/azerbaycanda-komendant-saati-elan-olundu/|website=azerbaycan24.com|access-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927135515/https://www.azerbaycan24.com/azerbaycanda-komendant-saati-elan-olundu/|archive-date=27 September 2020|language=az|date=27 September 2020}}{{cite web|title=Bu gecədən komendant saatı elan olunur|url=https://aqreqator.az/az/siyaset/1029826|website=aqreqator.az|access-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927135427/https://aqreqator.az/az/siyaset/1029826|archive-date=27 September 2020|language=az|date=27 September 2020}} under the Interior Minister, Vilayet Eyvazov.{{cite news|url=https://apa.az/en/azerbaijan-army-azerbaijani-armed-forces/Vilayat-Eyvazov-appointed-commandant-of-areas-where-curfew-is-applied-colorred-ORDERcolor-331394|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012130603/https://apa.az/en/azerbaijan-army-azerbaijani-armed-forces/Vilayat-Eyvazov-appointed-commandant-of-areas-where-curfew-is-applied-colorred-ORDERcolor-331394|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 October 2020|title=Vilayat Eyvazov appointed commandant of areas where curfew is applied|website=apa.az|date=28 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2020}} Azerbaijan Airlines announced that all airports in Azerbaijan would be closed to regular passenger flights until 30 September 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.azal.az/az/offer/549|title=Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı|website=azal.az|publisher=Azerbaijan Airlines|access-date=28 September 2020|language=az|date=28 September 2020|archive-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706180846/https://www.azal.az/az/offer/549|url-status=dead}} The Military Prosecutor's Offices of Fuzuli, Tartar, Karabakh and Ganja began criminal investigations of war and other crimes.{{cite web|url=https://genprosecutor.gov.az/az/post/2785|title=Mətbuat xidmətinin MƏLUMATI – cəbhədəki son vəziyyət|website=genprosecutor.gov.az|publisher=Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan|access-date=28 September 2020|language=az|date=27 September 2020|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928071020/https://genprosecutor.gov.az/az/post/2785|url-status=live}}

Also on 28 September 2020, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued a decree authorising a partial mobilisation in Azerbaijan.{{cite web|url=https://mincom.gov.az/en/view/news/992/order-of-the-president-of-the-republic-of-azerbaijan-on-the-announcement-of-partial-mobilization-in-the-republic-of-azerbaijan|title=Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the announcement of partial mobilization in the Republic of Azerbaijan|publisher=Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies (Azerbaijan)|access-date=12 October 2020|date=28 September 2020}} On 8 October 2020, Azerbaijan recalled its ambassador to Greece for consultations, following allegations of Armenians from Greece arriving in Nagorno-Karabakh to fight against Azerbaijan.{{cite web|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/257836/article/ekathimerini/news/azerbaijan-recalls-its-ambassador-to-greece-for-consultations|title=Azerbaijan recalls its ambassador to Greece for consultations|website=ekathimerini.com|access-date=8 October 2020|date=8 October 2020}} Three days later, the Azerbaijani State Security Service (SSS) warned against a potential Armenian-backed terror attack.{{cite web |last=Lmahamad |first=Ayya |date=16 October 2020 |title=State Security Service issues warning over Armenian terror threat |url=https://www.azernews.az/aggression/170802.html |access-date=29 October 2020 |publisher=AzerNews}}

On 17 October 2020, the Azerbaijani MoFA stated that member of the Russian State Duma from the ruling United Russia, Vitaly Milonov, was declared persona non grata in Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno-Karabakh without permission from the Azerbaijani government.{{cite web |last=Tagiev |first=Anar |date=16 October 2020 |title=Депутату Госдумы запретили въезд в Азербайджан |url=https://report.az/ru/nagorno-karabakhskiy-konflikt/deputatu-gosdumy-zapretili-vezd-v-azerbajdzhan/ |access-date=16 October 2020 |language=ru |agency=Report Information Agency}} On 24 October 2020, by recommendation of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, the member banks of the Azerbaijani Banks' Association unanimously adopted a decision to write off the debts of the military servicemen and civilians who died during the conflict.{{cite web|url=https://apa.az/en/azerbaijan-army-azerbaijani-armed-forces/Consumer-credits-of-our-martyred-military-servicemen-and-civilian-citizens-who-sustained-damage-as-result-of-enemy-provocation-to-be-completely-written-off-333780|title=Consumer credits of our martyred military servicemen and civilian citizens who sustained damage as result of enemy provocation to be completely written off|website=apa.az|access-date=16 October 2020|date=16 October 2020}}

On 29 October 2020, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued a decree on the formation of temporary commandant's offices in the areas that the Azerbaijani forces seized control of during the conflict. According to the decree, the commandants will be appointed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but they will have to coordinate with other executive bodies of the government, including Ministry of Defense, the State Border Service, the State Security Service, and ANAMA.{{cite web|url=https://president.az/articles/44886|title=Azərbaycan Respublikasının işğaldan azad olunmuş ərazilərində müvəqqəti xüsusi idarəetmənin təşkili haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Fərmanı|first=Ilham|last=Aliyev|author-link=Ilham Aliyev|website=president.az|publisher=Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan|date=29 October 2020|access-date=29 October 2020|language=az}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/live/news-54686682?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:5370b84f-3e8a-43ec-9afd-c8cfee40a0b3|title=Азербайджан создает комендатуры отвоеванных районов|publisher=BBC Russian Service|date=29 October 2020|access-date=29 October 2020|language=ru}}

Over the course of the war several Azerbaijani activists were brought in for questioning by the State Security Service, due to their anti-war activism.{{cite web |last=Weir |first=Fred |date=31 October 2020 |title=In Azerbaijan and Armenia, a brave few call for end to fighting |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2020/1029/In-Azerbaijan-and-Armenia-a-brave-few-call-for-end-to-fighting |access-date=5 November 2020 |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor}}{{cite web |last=Abubakirova |first=Sabina |date=13 October 2020 |title=Azerbaijani peace activists called for questioning |url=https://oc-media.org/azerbaijani-peace-activists-called-for-questioning/ |access-date=2 November 2020 |publisher=OC Media}} On 12 December, a decree by President Aliyev lifted the curfew that had been imposed in September.{{cite web |last=Sadyhova |first=Nargiz |date=12 December 2020 |editor-last=Kochneva |editor-first=Natal'ja |title=С сегодняшнего дня в Азербайджане отменен комендантский час |url=https://www.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/3348700.html |access-date=11 December 2020 |publisher=Trend |language=ru}}

{{Main|Casualties of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War}}

Casualties were high,{{Cite web |title=The human cost of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/12/the-human-cost-of-the-nagorno-karabakh-conflict |access-date=15 October 2020 |website=Al Jazeera}} officially in the low thousands. According to official figures released by the belligerents, Armenia lost 3,825 troops killed and 187 missing, while Azerbaijan lost 2,906 troops killed, with six missing in action. During the conflict, it was noted that the sides downplayed the number of their own casualties and exaggerated the numbers of enemy casualties and injuries.{{cite web |date=3 October 2020 |title=Military experts from Armenia and Azerbaijan question official casualty figures |url=https://jam-news.net/karabakh-casualties-experts-opinion/ |access-date=18 October 2020 |publisher=JAMnews}}

File:Wall with images of fallen Armenian soldiers during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.jpg, mainly 18–20 year old soldiers fought in hostilities.{{cite web |date=11 November 2020 |title=Главные предатели – мы все, мы оставили солдат одних» – подчеркнул лидер Карабаха |url=https://rus.azatutyun.am/a/30942821.html |website=rus.azatutyun.am |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=ru |quote=«Мы предали всей нацией, помощь оказывали, я доволен, но мы предали, потому что невозможно было бороться 18-20-летним ребятам против 6-7-8 государств. Да, в основном воевали 18-20-летние», – подчеркнул лидер Карабаха.}}]]

The Armenian authorities stated that 85 Armenian civilians were killed during the war,{{efn|name="ArmenianKIA2"}} while another 21 were missing. According to Azerbaijani sources, the Armenian military has targeted densely populated areas containing civilian structures.{{cite news |date=28 September 2020 |title=One more civil person killed as a result of shelling of residential settlements by Armenia |website=apa.az |url=https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/One-more-civil-person-killed-as-a-result-of-shelling-of-residential-settlements-by-Armenia-331411 |access-date=28 September 2020}} As of 9 November 2020, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan stated that during the war, as a result of reported shelling by Armenian artillery and rocketing, 100 people had been killed, while 416 people had been wounded. Also, during the post-war clashes, the Azerbaijani authorities stated that an Azercell employee was seriously injured during the installation of communication facilities and transmission equipment near Hadrut.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2020 |title=Azərbaycan MN: "4 hərbi qulluqçumuz öldürülüb" |url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/azerbaijan-55285924 |access-date=12 December 2020 |work=BBC Azerbaijani Service |language=az}}

As of 23 October 2020, the Armenian authorities has stated that the conflict had displaced more than half of Nagorno-Karabakh's population or approximately 90,000 people. The International Rescue Committee has also claimed that more than half of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh has been displaced by the conflict.{{cite web |date=7 November 2020 |title=Crisis Watch: Breaking news from the International Rescue Committee |url=https://www.rescue.org/article/crisis-watch-breaking-news-international-rescue-committee |website=rescue.org |publisher=International Rescue Committee}} As of 2 November 2020, the Azerbaijani authorities has stated that the conflict had displaced approximately 40,000 people in Azerbaijan.

Seven journalists have been injured.{{cite news |date=19 October 2020 |title=Азербайджан заявил о четырех пострадавших при обстреле Агдамского района |language=ru |publisher=RIA Novosti |url=https://ria.ru/20201019/karabakh-1580506732.html |access-date=19 October 2020}} On 1 October 2020, two French journalists from Le Monde covering the clashes in Khojavend were injured by Azerbaijani shellfire.{{Cite news |last=Safi |first=Michael |date=2020-10-01 |title=Russia says it and Turkey urge end to hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/01/two-french-reporters-injured-amid-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict |url-status=live |access-date=2023-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007002854/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/01/two-french-reporters-injured-amid-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict |archive-date=2020-10-07 |issn=0261-3077}} A week later, three Russian journalists reporting in Shusha were seriously injured by an Azerbaijani attack.{{Cite web |date=8 October 2020 |editor-last=Sirekanyan |editor-first=Tigran |title=Russian reporter in critical situation, witnesses say drone flying over the Church before striking |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1030925/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014212914/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1030925 |archive-date=14 October 2020 |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=armenpress.am |language=en}}{{cite web |date=10 October 2020 |title=Russia MFA: Russian reporters wounded in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone to be transported to Yerevan |url=https://news.am/eng/news/606904.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011141035/https://news.am/eng/news/606904.html |archive-date=11 October 2020 |access-date=11 October 2020 |publisher=Armenia News}} On 19 October 2020, according to Azerbaijani sources, an Azerbaijani AzTV journalist received shrapnel wounds from Armenian shellfire in Aghdam District.

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| image1 = Azerbaijani combattants of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.jpg

| caption1 = Wounded Azerbaijani servicemen attending the victory parade on 10 December.

| image2 = War trophies from Armenian Army at 2020 Victory Parade in Baku 11.jpg

| caption2 = An Artsakh 2S1 Gvozdika captured as a war trophy by the Azerbaijani forces, displayed on 10 December during the victory parade.

}}

Armenian authorities reported the deaths of 3,825 servicemen during the war, while the Azerbaijani authorities stated that more than 5,000 Armenian servicemen were killed, and several times more were wounded as of 28 October 2020.{{cite news |date=28 October 2020 |title=ВС Армении потеряли убитыми порядка 5 тыс. человек в ходе боевых действий в Карабахе – президент Азербайджана |language=ru |work=Interfax |url=http://interfax.az/view/817779 |access-date=3 December 2020}} After the war, the former director of the Armenian National Security Service, Artur Vanetsyan, had also stated that some 5,000 Armenians were killed during the war.{{Cite web |date=20 November 2020 |title=Артур Ванецян: "Поражение Армении в войне – результат некомпетентного управления" |url=https://www.armenianreport.com/ru/pubs/265642/ |access-date=25 September 2020 |work=Armenian Report |language=ru}} Also, the Armenian authorities had stated that about 60 Armenian servicemen were captured by Azerbaijan as prisoners of war. The former Head of the Military Control Service of the Armenian MoD, Movses Hakobyan, stated that already on the fifth day of war there were 1,500 deserters from Armenian armed forces, who were kept in Karabakh and not allowed to return to Armenia in order to prevent panic. The press secretary of Armenian prime minister called the accusations absurd and asked the law enforcement agencies to deal with them.{{cite news |date=19 November 2020 |title=Армения: генерал обвинил премьера Пашиняна в грубых ошибках в войне в Карабахе |agency=BBC News Русская служба |url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-55005875 |access-date=3 January 2021}} Former military commissar of Armenia major-general Levon Stepanyan stated that the number of deserters in Armenian army was over 10,000, and it is not possible to prosecute such a large number of military personnel.{{cite news |date=13 November 2020 |title=Генерал призвал наказать дезертиров, бежавших с поля боя в Карабахе |agency=Красная Весна |url=https://rossaprimavera.ru/news/20e5f7a6 |access-date=9 January 2021}} During the post-war clashes, the Armenian government stated that 60 servicemen went missing,{{Cite web |date=16 December 2020 |title=Омбудсмен Арцаха: "В направлении села Хцаберд без вести пропало подразделение в составе 60 военнослужащих" |url=https://armenianreport.com/ru/pubs/268059/ |access-date=16 December 2020 |work=Armenian Report |language=ru}} including several dozen that were captured.{{Cite web |date=16 December 2020 |title=Президент Арцаха заявил о пленении Азербайджаном нескольких десятков армянских военнослужащих |url=https://armenianreport.com/ru/pubs/268050/ |access-date=16 December 2020 |work=Armenian Report |language=ru}} and On 27 October 2020, Artsakh authorities stated that its defence minister Jalal Harutyunyan was wounded in action.{{cite web |last=Ghazanchyan |first=Siranush |date=27 October 2020 |title=Jalal Harutyunyan wounded, Mikael Arzumanyan appointed Artsakh Defense Minister |url=https://en.armradio.am/2020/10/27/jalal-harutyunyan-wounded-mikael-arzumanyan-appointed-artsakh-defense-minister/ |access-date=27 October 2020}} However, unofficial Azerbaijani military sources alleged that he was killed and released footage apparently showing the assassination from a drone camera.{{cite web |date=27 October 2020 |title=Arutunyan belə məhv edilib – Video |url=https://teleqraf.com/news/ermenistan/266523.html |access-date=27 October 2020 |website=Teleqraf.com |language=az}}

During the conflict, the government of Azerbaijan did not reveal the number of its military casualties.{{cite web |date=29 September 2020 |title=Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict: Casualties mount in Nagorno-Karabakh battle |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54338454 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005135938/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54338454 |archive-date=5 October 2020 |access-date=11 October 2020 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}} On 11 January, Azerbaijan stated that 2,853 of its soldiers had been killed during the war, while another 50 went missing. Also, Azerbaijani authorities stated that 11 more Azerbaijani servicemen were killed during the post-war clashes or landmine explosions.{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan discloses number of people killed in mine explosions |url=https://en.azvision.az/news/137035/azerbaijan-discloses-number-of-people-killed-in-mine-explosions.html |website=azvision.az|year=2020 }}{{Cite news |title=Azərbaycan MN: "4 hərbi qulluqçumuz öldürülüb" |newspaper=BBC News Azərbaycanca |url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/azerbaijan-55285924}}{{Cite news |author= |date=28 December 2020 |title=Azerbaijan says one serviceman killed in attack in Karabakh |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/armenia-azerbaijan-int-idUSKBN2920GE}} On 23 October 2020, President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, confirmed that Shukur Hamidov who was made National Hero of Azerbaijan in 2016, was killed during the operations in Qubadli District.{{cite web |date=23 October 2020 |title=Hero of Azerbaijan Shukur Hamidov Died |url=https://www.turan.az/ext/news/2020/10/free/politics%20news/en/129051.htm |access-date=26 October 2020 |agency=Turan Information Agency}} This was the first military casualty officially confirmed by the government. However, Armenian and Artsakh authorities have claimed 7,630 Azerbaijani soldiers and Syrian mercenaries were killed.{{cite news |last=Ghazanchyan |first=Siranush |date=8 November 2020 |title=Azerbaijan's military death toll reaches 7,630 |website=armenpress.am |url=https://en.armradio.am/2020/11/08/azerbaijans-military-death-toll-reaches-7630/ |access-date=8 November 2020}}{{cite news |date=12 October 2020 |title=Artsakh's Defense Army publishes another list of casualties |newspaper=Armenpress |editor-last=Sirekanyan |editor-first=Tigran |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031389.html |access-date=12 October 2020}}

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of at least 541 Syrian fighters or mercenaries fighting for Azerbaijan. On 14 November 2020, the Observatory reported the death of a commander of the Syrian National Army's Hamza Division.{{cite web |date=14 November 2020 |title=Turkish-backed mercenaries {{!}} Nearly 800 Syrian fighters killed in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/192201/ |access-date=14 November 2020 |publisher=The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights}}

File:Damaged Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi.png Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha was shelled twice during the conflict.{{cite news |date=8 October 2020 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of shelling Shusha cathedral |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54465172 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201008144651/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54465172 |archive-date=8 October 2020}}{{cite web |date=11 October 2020 |title=Armenia Azerbaijan: Reports of fresh shelling dent ceasefire hopes |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54488386 |access-date=11 October 2020 |work=BBC News}}{{cite news |last1=Ronzheimer |first1=Paul |author1-link=Paul Ronzheimer |last2=Moutafis |first2=Giorgos |date=9 October 2020 |title=Church bombed to ruins |language=de |publisher=Bild |url=https://m.bild.de/politik/international/bild-international/bild-reporter-at-armenian-frontline-church-bombed-to-ruins-73330690,view=amp.bildMobile.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201010083850/https://m.bild.de/politik/international/bild-international/bild-reporter-at-armenian-frontline-church-bombed-to-ruins-73330690,view=amp.bildMobile.html |archive-date=10 October 2020}}]]

File:Damage to an apartment in Shikharkh, a town for IDPs 2.png as a result of the bombardment of the district.{{Cite web |date=29 October 2020 |title=Azerbaijan reveals details of casualties, injuries in Tartar inflicted by Armenian troops |url=https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3326082.html |access-date=11 December 2020 |work=Trend News Agency}}{{Cite web |date=14 January 2021 |title=Azerbaijan discloses number of facilities destroyed in Terter by Armenian army |url=https://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Azerbaijan-discloses-number-of-facilities-destroyed-in-Terter-by-Armenian-army.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210115033511/https://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Azerbaijan-discloses-number-of-facilities-destroyed-in-Terter-by%C2%A0Armenian-army.html |archive-date=15 January 2021 |access-date=15 January 2021 |work=Vestnik Kavkaza}}]]

Civilian areas, including major cities, have been hit, including Azerbaijan's second-largest city, Ganja, and the region's capital, Stepanakert, with many buildings and homes destroyed.{{cite news |date=5 October 2020 |title=In pictures: Fighting rages in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54418901 |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005180202/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54418901 |archive-date=5 October 2020}}{{cite news |date=4 October 2020 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Major cities hit as heavy fighting continues |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54407436 |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004100202/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54407436 |archive-date=4 October 2020}} The Ghazanchetsots Cathedral has also been damaged.{{cite news |last1=Ronzheimer |first1=Paul |last2=Moutafis |first2=Giorgos |date=9 October 2020 |title=Church bombed to ruins |language=de |publisher=Bild |url=https://m.bild.de/politik/international/bild-international/bild-reporter-at-armenian-frontline-church-bombed-to-ruins-73330690,view=amp.bildMobile.html |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011101422/https://m.bild.de/politik/international/bild-international/bild-reporter-at-armenian-frontline-church-bombed-to-ruins-73330690,view=amp.bildMobile.html |archive-date=11 October 2020}} Several outlets reported increased cases of COVID-19 in Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly the city of Stepanakert, where the population was forced to live in overcrowded bunkers, due to Azerbaijan artillery and drone strikes conflict.{{cite web |date=21 October 2020 |title=Coronavirus spreads in Nagorno-Karabakh amid heavy fighting |url=https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-pandemics-azerbaijan-armenia-europe-14f519a45ce899c2c7a52cba7c876850 |website=apnews.com |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite web |date=24 October 2020 |title=Coronavirus thrives in Karabakh's bomb shelters |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-thrives-in-karabakh-s-bomb-shelters-1.5159270 |website=ctvnews.ca |publisher=CTV News}} There were also reported difficulties in testing and contact tracing during the conflict.

The Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha became damaged as a result of shelling. On 19 October 2020, a strong fire broke out in a cotton plant in Azad Qaraqoyunlu, Tartar District, as a result of the Armenian artillery shelling, with several large hangars of the plant becoming completely burned down.{{cite news |date=19 October 2020 |title=В азербайджанском Тертере загорелся хлопковый завод после обстрелов |language=ru |publisher=RIA Novosti |url=https://ria.ru/20201019/pozhar-1580535542.html |access-date=19 October 2020}} An Armenian-backed Nagorno-Karabakh human rights ombudsman report noted 5,800 private properties and 520 private vehicles destroyed, with damage to 960 items of civilian infrastructure, and industrial and public and objects.{{cite web |date=11 October 2020 |title=Արցախում լրջորեն վնասվել է ավելի քան 5800 անշարժ գույք |url=https://yerkirmedia.am/hy/article/2020/10/11/23899/ |access-date=3 December 2020 |work=Yerkir Media |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120144244/https://yerkirmedia.am/hy/article/2020/10/11/23899/ |url-status=dead }} On 16 November 2020, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan reported 3,410 private houses, 512 civilian facilities, and 120 multi-storey residential buildings being damaged throughout the war.

By 7 October 2020, Azerbaijan reported to have destroyed about 250 tanks and other armoured vehicles; 150 other military vehicles; 11 command and command-observation posts; 270 artillery units and MLRSs, including a BM-27 Uragan; 60 Armenian anti-aircraft systems, including 4 S-300 and 25 9K33 Osas; 18 UAVs and 8 arms depots.{{cite news |last=Mikayıloğlu |first=Ramiz |date=29 September 2020 |title=Azerbaijan's MoD: Up to 200 tanks, 228 artillery cannons, 300 units of air defense systems of Armenia destroyed |website=apa.az |url=https://apa.az/en/azerbaijan-army-azerbaijani-armed-forces/Azerbaijan's-MoD:-Up-to-200-tanks-228-artillery-cannons-300-units-of-air-defense-systems-of-Armenia-destroyed-331801 |url-status=live |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001213252/https://apa.az/en/azerbaijan-army-azerbaijani-armed-forces/Azerbaijan%27s-MoD%3A-Up-to-200-tanks-228-artillery-cannons-300-units-of-air-defense-systems-of-Armenia-destroyed-331801 |archive-date=1 October 2020}}{{cite news |date=7 October 2020 |title=Azerbaijani MoD: List of the enemy's destroyed military equipment |website=apa.az |url=https://apa.az/en/frontline-news/Azerbaijani-MoD:-List-of-the-enemy's-destroyed-military-equipment-colorredLISTcolor-332284 |access-date=7 October 2020}}{{cite news |date=9 October 2020 |title=Azerbaijani President announces list of destroyed and looted military equipment of Armenia |website=apa.az |url=https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/Azerbaijani-President-announces-list-of-destroyed-and-looted-military-equipment-of-Armenia-332516 |url-status=live |access-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011141826/https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/Azerbaijani-President-announces-list-of-destroyed-and-looted-military-equipment-of-Armenia-332516 |archive-date=11 October 2020}} destroyed. As of 16 October 2020, the Azerbaijani President stated that the Armenian losses were at US$2 billion.{{cite news |last=Kazimoglu |first=Mirmahmud |date=16 October 2020 |title=Ilham Aliyev: Armenian army suffers damage of US$2 billion |agency=Report Information Agency |url=https://report.az/en/nagorno-karabakh-conflict/ilham-aliyev-armenian-army-suffers-damage-of-2-billion/ |access-date=20 October 2020}} In turn an Azerbaijani helicopter was stated to have been damaged, but its crew had apparently returned it to Azerbaijani-controlled territory without casualties.{{cite news |last=Nəsibli |first=İsmayıl |date=27 September 2020 |title=Tərtərdə zədələnən döyüş helikopteri peşəkarlıqla öz ərazimizə endirilib |language=az |website=report.az |publisher=Report Information Agency |url=https://report.az/herbi-xeberler/terterde-zedelenen-doyus-helikopteri-pesekarliqla-oz-erazimize-endirilib/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001213053/https://report.az/herbi-xeberler/terterde-zedelenen-doyus-helikopteri-pesekarliqla-oz-erazimize-endirilib/ |archive-date=1 October 2020}} Later it was reported that on 12 October 2020, Azerbaijan had destroyed one Tochka-U missile launcher. On 14 October 2020, Azerbaijan stated it had further destroyed five T-72 tanks, three BM-21 Grad rocket launchers, one 9K33 Osa missile system, one BMP-2 vehicle, one KS-19 air defence gun, two D-30 howitzers and several Armenian army automobiles.{{cite web |last=Seidova |first=Kjamalja |date=14 October 2020 |title=Военная техника ВС Армении, уничтоженная сегодня ночью – СПИСОК |url=https://www.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3316263.html |access-date=14 October 2020 |publisher=Trend News Agency |language=ru}} On the same day, Azerbaijan announced the destruction of three R-17 Elbrus tactical ballistic missile launchers that had been targeting Ganja and Mingachevir.{{cite web |date=14 October 2020 |title=Yaşayış məntəqələrimizi hədəfə alan düşmən raketləri bölmələrimizin qabaqlayıcı zərbəsi ilə sıradan çıxarılıb |url=https://mod.gov.az/az/news/yasayis-menteqelerimizi-hedefe-alan-dusmen-raketleri-bolmelerimizin-qabaqlayici-zerbesi-ile-siradan-cixarilib-32975.html |access-date=14 October 2020 |publisher=Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan |language=az}} BBC reporters confirmed the destruction of at least one tactical ballistic missile launcher in the vicinity of Vardenis, close to the border with Azerbaijan, and posted photo evidence in support of this information.{{cite news |last=Barabanov |first=Il'ja |date=15 October 2020 |title=Где были ракетные комплексы Армении, которые разбомбил Азербайджан? Репортаж Би-би-си |agency=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-54550977 |access-date=21 November 2020}} Later American journalist Josh Friedman posted a high quality video of a destroyed Armenian ballistic missile launcher.{{cite web |last=Friedman |first=Josh |title=Scud Missile Taken Out In Armenia Near Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fb_I9UPW4U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/6Fb_I9UPW4U |archive-date=28 October 2021 |access-date=21 November 2020 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

Armenian and Artsakh authorities initially reported the downing of four Azerbaijani helicopters and the destruction of ten tanks and IFVs, as well as 15 drones.{{cite news |title=Ոչնչացվել են հակառակորդի 4 ուղղաթիռ, շուրջ 15 ԱԹՍ, 10 տանկ և հետևակի մարտական մեքենա. ԼՂ ՊՆ |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30860621.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929175806/https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30860621.html |archive-date=29 September 2020 |access-date=11 October 2020 |website=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան|date=27 September 2020 |last1=ռ/կ |first1=Ազատություն }} Later the numbers were revised to 36 tanks and armoured personnel vehicles destroyed, two armoured combat engineering vehicles destroyed and four helicopters and 27 unmanned aerial vehicles downed all within the first day of hostilities.{{cite news |date=28 September 2020 |title=Armenia military top brass hold tactical consultation |work=ARMENPRESS |editor-last=Kocharyan |editor-first=Stepan |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029179.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002201953/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029179.html |archive-date=2 October 2020}} They released footage showing the destruction or damage of five Azerbaijani tanks.{{cite web |last=Roblin |first=Sebastien |date=27 September 2020 |title=Tanks Ablaze As Azerbaijani Forces Attack Armenian Troops In Disputed Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2020/09/27/tanks-ablaze-as-azerbaijani-forces-attack-armenian-troops-in-disputed-nagorno-karabakh/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009181317/https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2020/09/27/tanks-ablaze-as-azerbaijani-forces-attack-armenian-troops-in-disputed-nagorno-karabakh/ |archive-date=9 October 2020 |access-date=11 October 2020 |work=Forbes}} Over the course of 2 October, the Artsakh Defence Army said they had destroyed 39 Azerbaijani military vehicles, including a T-90 tank; four SU-25 fighter-bombers; three Mi-24 attack helicopters; and 17 UAVs.{{cite web |last=Nazaryan |first=Robert |date=2 October 2020 |title=Իրավիճակի ամփոփում ժ. 18։00 դրությամբ. 02.10.2020թ. |trans-title=Situation summary h. As of 18:00. 02.10.2020 |url=https://razm.info/146648 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007231427/https://razm.info/146648 |archive-date=7 October 2020 |access-date=11 October 2020 |website=razm.info |language=hy}}

According to Dutch warfare research group Oryx, which documents visually confirmed losses on both sides, Armenia lost 255 tanks (destroyed: 146, damaged: 6, captured: 103), 78 armoured fighting vehicles (destroyed: 25, damaged: 1, captured: 52), and 737 trucks, vehicles and jeeps (destroyed: 331, damaged: 18, captured: 387), while Azerbaijan lost 62 tanks (destroyed: 38, damaged: 16, abandoned: 1, captured: 7, captured but later lost: 1), 23 armoured fighting vehicles (destroyed: 6, damaged: 3, abandoned: 7, captured: 9), 76 trucks, vehicles and jeeps (destroyed: 40, damaged: 22, abandoned: 8, captured: 6), as well 11 old An-2 aircraft, used as unmanned bait in order for Armenia to reveal the location of air defence systems. Oryx only counts destroyed vehicles and equipment of which photo or videographic evidence is available, and therefore, the actual number of equipment destroyed is higher.{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Janovsky |first2=Jakub |date=September 27, 2020 |title=The Fight For Nagorno-Karabakh: Documenting Losses on The Sides Of Armenia and Azerbaijan |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/09/the-fight-for-nagorno-karabakh.html |access-date=21 November 2020 |website=Oryx}}

{{Main|War crimes in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War}}

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that "indiscriminate attacks on populated areas anywhere, including in Stepanakert, Ganja and other localities in and around the immediate Nagorno-Karabakh zone of conflict, were totally unacceptable".{{cite web |date=18 October 2020 |title=Both sides obliged to 'spare and protect civilians' over Nagorno-Karabakh fighting declares UN's Guterres |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1075672 |access-date=19 October 2020 |publisher=United Nations}} Amnesty International stated that both Azerbaijani and Armenian forces committed war crimes during recent fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, and called on Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities to immediately conduct independent, impartial investigations, identify all those responsible, and bring them to justice.{{cite web |date=10 December 2020 |title=Armenia/Azerbaijan: Decapitation and war crimes in gruesome videos must be urgently investigated |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/12/armenia-azerbaijan-decapitation-and-war-crimes-in-gruesome-videos-must-be-urgently-investigated/ |website=amnesty.org |publisher=Amnesty International}}{{cite web |author=Roth |first=Andrew |date=10 December 2020 |title=Human rights groups detail 'war crimes' in Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/10/human-rights-groups-detail-war-crimes-in-nagorno-karabakh |access-date=11 December 2020 |website=The Guardian}} Columbia University's Institute for the Study of Human Rights recognized that violent conflict affected all sides in the conflict but distinguished "the collateral damage of Azerbaijanis" from "the policy of atrocities such as mutilations and beheadings committed by Azerbaijani forces and their proxies in Artsakh."{{Cite web |title=Atrocities Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) {{!}} Institute for the Study of Human Rights |url=https://www.humanrightscolumbia.org/peace-building/atrocities-artsakh-nagorno-karabakh |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=www.humanrightscolumbia.org}} Azerbaijan started an investigation on war crimes by Azerbaijani servicemen in November{{Cite web |date=23 November 2020 |title=Erməni əsirlərin cəsədlərilə qəddar rəftarı göstərən videolarla bağlı Azərbaycanda cinayət işi açılıb |url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/azerbaijan-55044791 |access-date=27 November 2020 |work=BBC Azerbaijani Service |language=az}} and as of 14 December, has arrested four of its servicemen.{{Cite web |date=14 December 2020 |title=Azerbaijan arrests soldiers suspected of war crimes |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/14/azerbaijan-arrests-soldiers-suspected-of-war-crimes |access-date=14 December 2020 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}

{{See also|2020–2021 Armenian protests|2021 Armenian political crisis|Armenian prisoners of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War}}

File:Protests in Yerevan against the 2020 ceasefire agreement in Nagorno-Karabakh.jpg in Yerevan against the terms of a cease-fire agreement on 18 November 2020.{{cite web |last=Demourian |first=Avet |date=12 November 2020 |title=Armenians protest Nagorno-Karabakh truce terms for a 3rd day |url=https://apnews.com/article/international-news-moscow-baku-azerbaijan-armenia-410dadd6d55cd10540e881524e359b59 |website=apnews.com |publisher=Associated Press}}]]

Shortly after the news about the signing the ceasefire agreement broke in the early hours of 10 November violent protests erupted in Armenia against Nikol Pashinyan, claiming he was a "traitor" for having accepted the peace deal.{{cite news|last=Kramer|first=Andrew E.|date=10 November 2020|title=Facing Military Debacle, Armenia Accepts a Deal in Nagorno-Karabakh War|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/world/middleeast/armenia-settlement-nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan.html|access-date=10 November 2020|issn=0362-4331}} Protesters also seized the parliament building by breaking a metal door, and pulled the President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan from a car and beat him.{{cite web|date=10 November 2020|title=Протестующие в Ереване избили спикера парламента Армении|url=https://ria.ru/20201110/armeniya-1583852881.html|access-date=11 November 2020|website=РИА Новости|language=ru}}{{cite web|title=Demonstrators seized the building of the Armenian parliament|url=https://www.interfax.ru/world/736343|access-date=11 November 2020|website=interfax.ru|language=ru}} Throughout November, numerous Armenian officials resigned from their posts, including the Armenian minister of foreign affairs, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan,{{Cite web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/11/16/Armenia-s-foreign-minister-resigns-week-after-ceasefire-deal-with-Azerbaijan|title=Armenia's foreign minister resigns week after ceasefire deal with Azerbaijan|work=Al-Arabiya|date=16 November 2020|access-date=16 December 2020}} the minister of defence, David Tonoyan,{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/20/armenian-defence-minister-tenders-resignation-says-aravot-daily|title=Armenian defence minister tenders resignation: Report|work=Al Jazeera|date=20 November 2020|access-date=16 December 2020}} head of the same ministry's military control service, Movses Hakobyan,{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |editor-last=Harutyunyan |editor-first=Aneta |title=Head of Armenian defense ministry's military control service resigns |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1035242/ |access-date=16 December 2020 |work=Armenpress}} and the spokesman of Armenia's Defense Ministry, Artsrun Hovhannisyan.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.az/news/official-representative-of-armenias-defense-ministry-resigns|title=Official representative of Armenia's Defense Ministry resigns|date=12 November 2020}}

After the ceasefire agreement was signed, President Armen Sarksyan held a meeting with Karekin II, where they both made a call to declare 22 November as the Day of Remembrance of the Heroes who fell for the Defense of the Motherland in the Artsakh Liberation War.{{Cite web |last=Ghazanchyan |first=Siranush |date=November 13, 2020 |title=November 22 declared a Day of Remembrance of fallen soldiers |url=https://en.armradio.am/2020/11/13/president-catholicos-call-to-declare-november-22-as-day-of-remembrance-of-fallen-soldiers/ |access-date=13 November 2020 |website=Public Radio of Armenia}} On 16 November, he declared that snap parliamentary elections and Pashinyan's resignation were inevitable, proposing that a process be overseen and managed by an interim "National Accord Government".{{cite web|url=http://asbarez.com/198526/governments-resignation-and-snap-elections-are-inevitable-says-president/|title=Government's Resignation and Snap Elections are Inevitable, Says President|work=Asbarez|date=16 November 2020|access-date=22 December 2020}}

On 10 December, the Armenian media reported that an Azerbaijani citizen was detained at night near Berdavan in Tavush Province. It was reported that an Azerbaijani civilian was observed in Berdavan between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning. The executive head of Berdavan, Smbat Mugdesyan, said that the NSS had taken him away and that he did not know other details. According to the Armenian media, a criminal case was opened against the detained citizen on suspicion of illegally crossing to the Armenian state border. The name of the detained Azerbaijani was not disclosed. According to the BBC Azerbaijani Service, Azerbaijan's Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministries said they had no information about the incident.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/azerbaijan-55270879|title=Bu günün xəbərləri: Ermənistanda "Azərbaycan vətəndaşı saxlanılıb", hərbi vəziyyət ləğv edilir, Azərbaycan Türkiyədən avtobus alır|date=11 December 2020|access-date=11 December 2020|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|language=az}}

On 12 December, Azerbaijani trucks, accompanied by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers, entered David Bek in Syunik Province of Armenia to pick up the bodies of fallen soldiers. Armenian officials refuted the media reports of Azerbaijani vehicles entering Goris.{{Cite web|url=https://armenianreport.com/ru/pubs/267701/|title=Власти Гориса заверили, что по городу не разъезжают машины с азербайджанскими номерами|date=12 December 2020|access-date=12 December 2020|work=Armenian Report|language=ru}}

On 16 December, the family members of the missing Armenian soldiers gathered in front of the Armenian Ministry of Defence building, demanding information about their loved ones. They were not allowed into the building and Armenian military representatives did not give a response. A scuffle ensued, during which the family members of the missing Armenian soldiers broke through to the building.{{Cite web|url=https://armenianreport.com/ru/pubs/268038/|title=Родители без вести пропавших солдат прорвались к зданию МО, минуя КПП|date=16 December 2020|access-date=16 December 2020|language=ru|work=Armenian Report}}

File:Azerbaijani people celebrating victory in Karabakh. Sheikh Shamil street.jpg, Azerbaijan after the peace treaty.]]

The peace agreement and the end of the war was seen as a victory and was widely celebrated in Azerbaijan.{{cite web |last= |first= |date=10 November 2020 |title=Euphoric Azerbaijanis celebrate "victorious" Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/euphoric-azerbaijanis-celebrate-victorious-nagorno-karabakh-peace-deal/news |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=Daily Sabah}}{{cite news|last=Dixon|first=Robyn|date=10 November 2020|title=Cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh provokes protests in Armenia, celebrations in Azerbaijan|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/nagorno-karabakh-ceasefire-armenia-russia-azerbaijan/2020/11/10/b1b9bcc0-231b-11eb-9c4a-0dc6242c4814_story.html|access-date=10 November 2020}} On 10 November 2020, crowds waved flags in Baku after the peace deal was announced.{{cite news|date=10 November 2020|title=Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia sign Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54882564|access-date=11 November 2020}} On that day, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave a speech in which he mockingly said {{lang|az|Nə oldu Paşinyan?}} ("What happened Pashinyan?"), which became an Internet meme in Azerbaijan and Turkey.{{cite news|url=https://report.az/qarabag/prezident-ilham-eliyev-men-dogrudan-da-yene-bu-suali-vermek-isteyirem-bes-ne-oldu-pasinyan/|title=Prezident İlham Əliyev: "Mən doğrudan da yenə bu sualı vermək istəyirəm: Bəs, nə oldu Paşinyan?!"|first=Anar|last=Tağıyev|publisher=Report News Agency|date=14 August 2021|language=az}}{{cite web|url=https://carnegieeurope.eu/2021/02/11/unfinished-business-in-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-pub-83844|title=Unfinished Business in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict|first=Thomas|last=de Waal|author-link=Thomas de Waal|publisher=Carnegie Europe|date=11 February 2021}} On 11 November, at a meeting with wounded Azerbaijani servicemen who took part in the war, Aliyev said that new orders and medals would be established in Azerbaijan, and that he gave appropriate instructions on awarding civilians and servicemen who showed "heroism on the battlefield and in the rear and distinguished themselves in this war." He also proposed the names of these orders and medals.{{Cite web|url=https://en.president.az/articles/46142|title=Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with servicemen undergoing treatment at Clinical Medical Center 1|date=11 November 2020|access-date=22 November 2020|work=President.az|publisher=Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan}} About a week later, at a plenary session of the Azerbaijani National Assembly, a draft law on amendments to the law "On the establishment of orders and medals of the Republic of Azerbaijan" was submitted for discussion.{{Cite web|url=https://en.president.az/articles/46142|title=Vətən Müharibəsində qələbə münasibətilə Azərbaycan Respublikasının orden və medallarının təsis edilməsi ilə əlaqədar "Azərbaycan Respublikasının orden və medallarının təsis edilməsi haqqında" Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanununda dəyişiklik edilməsi barədə Azərbaycan Respublıkasinin Qanunu|trans-title=Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on amendments to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the establishment of orders and medals of the Republic of Azerbaijan" in connection with the establishment of orders and medals of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of victory in the Great Patriotic War|date=20 November 2020|access-date=22 November 2020|publisher=National Assembly of Azerbaijan|language=az}} Seventeen new orders and medals were established on the same day in the first reading in accordance with the bill "On the establishment of orders and medals of the Republic of Azerbaijan".{{Cite web|url=http://armiya.az/ru/news/166994|title=Парламент Азербайджана утвердил в первом чтении законопроект об учреждении новых орденов и медалей Отечественной войны|trans-title=The Parliament of Azerbaijan approved in the first reading the bill on the establishment of new orders and medals of the Patriotic War|date=20 November 2020|access-date=22 November 2020|work=Armiya.az|language=ru|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129231951/http://armiya.az/ru/news/166994|url-status=dead}} In mid-November, Aliyev and Azerbaijan's First Vice-president, Mehriban Aliyeva, visited Fuzuli and Jabrayil Districts, both of which were ghost towns in ruins after the Armenian forces occupied it in 1993.{{Cite web|first=Tofik|last=Babayev|url=https://news.yahoo.com/azerbaijans-fizuli-ghost-town-karabakh-144520120.html|title=Azerbaijan's Fuzuli a ghost town after Karabakh battles|date=19 November 2020|access-date=24 November 2020|work=Agence France-Presse}} Aliyev ordered the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads to construct a new highway, starting from Alxanlı, which will connect Fuzuli to Shusha.{{Cite web|first=Mushvig|last=Mehdiyev|url=https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/azerbaijani-president-visits-liberated-districts-vows-to-rebuild-damaged-villages-and-cities-2020-11-18-49/|title=Azerbaijani President Visits Liberated Districts, Vows to Rebuild Damaged Villages and Cities|date=19 November 2020|access-date=24 November 2020|work=Caspian News}} In Jabrayil, Aliyev stated that a "new master plan" will be drawn up to rebuild the city.{{Cite web|url=https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3336059.html|title=Victory monuments will be erected in all cities and life will return here – President of Azerbaijan|date=17 November 2020|access-date=24 November 2020|work=Trend News Agency}}

File:Azerbaijani jets during the 2020 victory parade 2.jpg fighter jets during the victory parade in Baku on 10 December.]]

27 September and 10 November were declared Memorial Day and Victory Day respectively,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/live/azerbaijan-54577122?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:27045536-6d7a-476e-bb34-b438c5d4e1da|title=Hər il sentyabrın 27-si Azərbaycanda Anım Günü kimi qeyd olunacaq|date=2 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|language=az}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/live/azerbaijan-54577122?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:80291d10-807c-43c6-aed7-5e2e8be46797|title=10 noyabr – Azərbaycanda Zəfər Günü kimi təsis olunub|date=2 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|language=az}} although the latter's date was changed to 8 November as it overlapped with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's Memorial Day in Turkey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/live/azerbaijan-54577122?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:191f4415-82ba-4cff-af24-e815dcef7472|title=Azərbaycanda Zəfər Gününün vaxtı dəyişdirilib|date=3 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|language=az}} It was also announced that the new station in the Baku Metro will be named 8 November at the suggestion of Aliyev.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/azerbaijan-55226952|title=İlham Əliyevin təklifi ilə yeni metrostansiya "8 noyabr" adlanacaq, Baş infeksionist Təyyar Eyvazov: "Epidemioloji vəziyyət pisləşməkdə davam edir"|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|date=8 December 2020|access-date=8 December 2020|language=az}} On the same day, President Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of the YASHAT Foundation to support the families of those wounded and killed during the war, and general control over the management of the foundation was transferred to the ASAN service.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/azerbaijan-55226953|title=İlham Əliyev yaralıların və həlak olanların ailələrinə dəstək üçün YAŞAT Fondu yaradıb|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|date=8 December 2020|access-date=8 December 2020|language=az}} On 2 December, the Association of Banks of Azerbaijan announced that the bank debts of servicemen and civilians killed during the war in Azerbaijan would be completely written off.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/live/azerbaijan-54577122?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:fd97ac50-800f-4796-aae6-10774e1997fd|title=Azərbaycanda həlak olmuş hərbçilərin və mülki şəxslərin bank borcları tam silinəcək|date=1 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|language=az}} On 4 December, at 12:00 (GMT+4) local time, a moment of silence was held in Azerbaijan to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the war.{{Cite web|url=https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3344857.html|title=Azerbaijan commemorates bright memory of martyrs with minute of silence (VIDEO)|date=4 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|work=Trend News Agency}}{{Cite web|url=https://apa.az/en/domestic-news/Azerbaijan-observes-minute-of-silence-to-honor-Martyrs-of-Patriotic-War|title=Azerbaijan observes minute of silence to honor Martyrs of Patriotic War|date=4 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|work=Azeri Press Agency}} Flags were lowered across the country, and traffic halted, while ships moored in the Bay of Baku, as well as cars honked their horns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/live/azerbaijan-54577122?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:509620c7-dc35-4d5f-a439-18839d871a17|title=İkinci Qarabağ Müharibəsində həlak olanların xatirəsi bir dəqiqəlik sükutla anılıb|date=4 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|language=az}} A unity prayer was held at the Heydar Mosque in Baku in memory of those killed in the war, and Shaykh al-Islām Allahshukur Pashazadeh, chairman of the Religious Council of the Caucasus, said that "Sunnis and Shiites prayed for the souls of our martyrs together." Commemoration ceremonies were also held in mosques in Sumgayit, Guba, Ganja, Shamakhi, Lankaran, Shaki, in churches in Baku and Ganja, and in the synagogue of Ashkenazi Jews in Baku.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/live/azerbaijan-54577122?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:39cc9ad0-65bd-4ebd-97d1-34e57a8444b0|title=Azərbaycandə məscid, sinaqoq və kilsələrdə anım mərasimləri keçirilib|date=4 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|language=az}} On 9 December, President Aliyev awarded 83 servicemen with the title of Hero of the Patriotic War,{{Cite web|url=https://axar.az/news/toplum/521963.html|title=Bu hərbçilərə Vətən Müharibəsi Qəhrəmanı adı verildi|date=9 December 2020|access-date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108054026/https://axar.az/news/toplum/521963.html|archive-date=8 January 2021|work=Axar.az|language=az|url-status=bot: unknown}} 204 servicemen with Karabakh Order,{{Cite web|url=https://apa.az/az/azerbaycan-ordusu/Silahli-Quvvlrin-hrbi-qulluqculari-tltif-edilib-colorredSIYAHIcolor-618932ar|title=Silahlı Qüvvələrin hərbi qulluqçuları təltif edilib – SİYAHI|date=9 December 2020|access-date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108110327/https://apa.az/az/azerbaycan-ordusu/Silahli-Quvvlrin-hrbi-qulluqculari-tltif-edilib-colorredSIYAHIcolor-618932ar|archive-date=8 January 2021|work=Azeri Press Agency|language=az|url-status=dead}} and 33 servicemen with Zafar Order.{{Cite web|url=https://az.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3347531.html|title=Silahlı Qüvvələrin bir sıra hərbi qulluqçuları təltif olunub|date=9 December 2020|access-date=9 December 2020|work=Trend News Agency|language=az}}

A victory parade was held on 10 December in honour of the Azerbaijani victory on Azadliq Square,{{Cite web|date=3 December 2020|title=Baku preparing for grandiose Victory Parade – VIDEO|url=https://www.azerbaycan24.com/en/baku-preparing-for-grandiose-victory-parade-ndash-video/|access-date=4 December 2020|website=www.azerbaycan24.com}} with 3,000 military servicemen who distinguished themselves during the war marched alongside military equipment, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/azerbaijan-55260110|title=Zəfər paradında əsgərlərin marşı, yeni silah və hərbi texnika – şəkillərdə|date=10 December 2020|access-date=10 December 2020|work=BBC Azerbaijani Service|language=az}} as well as Armenian war trophies,{{Cite web|last=Makarenko|first=Alena|date=2 December 2020|title=Эрдоган приедет на парад победы в Баку: мнение политолога date|url=https://360tv.ru/news/mir/pobedy-v-azerbajdzhane/|access-date=10 December 2020|work=360 TV|language=ru}} and Turkish soldiers and officers.{{Cite web |last=Bəşir |first=Türkan |date=10 December 2020 |title=Bakıda "Zəfər Paradı" keçirildi |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/bakıda-zəfər-paradı-keçirildi/5694375.html |access-date=10 December 2020 |work=Amerikanın Səsi |publisher=Voice of America |language=az}} Turkish President Erdoğan attended the military parade as part of a state visit to Baku.{{Cite web |last=Bəşir |first=Türkan |date=9 December 2020 |title=Türkiyə Prezidenti Azərbaycana səfərə gəlib |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/türkiyə-prezidenti-azərbaycana-səfərə-gəlib/5692916.html |access-date=10 December 2020 |work=Amerikanın Səsi |publisher=Voice of America |language=az}} In April 2021, Azerbaijan opened a Military Trophy Park featuring items from the conflict.{{Cite news|date=26 April 2021|title=In pictures: Azerbaijan's controversial war park|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56885719|access-date=27 April 2021}}

According to peer-reviewed journal Caucasus Survey:{{cite journal |last1=Gamaghelyan |first1=Philip |last2=Rumyantsev |first2=Sergey |title=The road to the Second Karabakh War: the role of ethno-centric narratives in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict |journal=Caucasus Survey |date=2021 |volume=9|issue=3|pages=330–331 |doi=10.1080/23761199.2021.1932068|s2cid=237801805 |issn = 2376-1199 }}

{{blockquote|…for the first time in the post-Soviet era, the Azerbaijani leadership has achieved a high degree of social solidarity. All opposition parties and organizations, including the Popular Front, Musavat, ReAl, and National Council, expressed their full support for the war. The citizens acquired a shared emotional experience of "making history". (...) The government received the stamp of approval from its most vicious critics. The authoritarian government and the civil society it long persecuted were united in the name of homeland. The definition of homeland, consequently, has been reduced to a military victory for the soil, not values or the rights or lives of its people. By supporting a war the government waged, both the opposition and civil society contributed to the creation of a new source and reserve of legitimacy for authoritarianism. Further, while the opposition and civil society criticized the regime in Russia for its authoritarianism and imperialist nationalism, the majority of them did not express misgivings about the no less authoritarian and imperialist politics of Turkey, and enthusiastically embraced ultra-right pan-Turkism.}}

File:Russian peacekeepers and Azerbaijani military personnel near Vank village.png of Kalbajar District.]]{{Main|Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh#2020 war}}

{{External media |video1={{YouTube|d9oIi0WXuvM|Nagorno-Karabakh: The families burning down their own homes}}}}

The Armenian population of the territories ceded to Azerbaijan was forced to flee to Armenia, sometimes destroying their houses and livestock to keep them out of Azerbaijani hands.{{cite news |last1=Cookman |first1=Liz |date=20 November 2020 |title=For Armenians Fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh, 'Losing It Is Everything' |publisher=Foreign Policy |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/11/20/armenians-fleeing-nagorno-karabakh-bitter-peace/ |access-date=14 April 2021}}{{cite web |last=Ohanyan |first=Anna |date=20 November 2020 |title=Armenians Flee Nagorno-Karabakh After Six-Week War With Azerbaijan |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2020/11/20/armenians-flee-nagorno-karabakh-after-six-week-war-with-azerbaijan/kalm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205010836/https://carnegieendowment.org/2020/11/20/armenians-flee-nagorno-karabakh-after-six-week-war-with-azerbaijan/kalm |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2021 |access-date=14 April 2021 |website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace}}

{{Main|Peacekeeping operations in Nagorno-Karabakh}}

{{Main|Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis}}

In 2020, Canada suspended arms exports to Turkey due to accusations of the use of Canadian technology in the conflict, in violation of end-use assurances Turkey had given to Canada. Turkey criticised the Canadian decision.{{cite web|title=Turkey hits out at Canada for suspending arms exports|url=https://apnews.com/article/technology-turkey-global-trade-azerbaijan-ottawa-6698a73cb11010ffb14e104d31bda42e|website=Associated Press|date=6 October 2020 |access-date=6 October 2020}} In 2021, Canada prohibited arms exports to Turkey after an investigation verified the accusations.{{cite web|title=Canada blocks arms exports to Turkey|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-urges-canada-to-review-defense-embargo-163895|website=hurriyetdailynews|access-date=12 April 2021}} Turkey protested that the embargo will harm bilateral relations and NATO alliance solidarity.{{cite web |last1=Gumrukcu |first1=Tuvan |last2=Butler |first2=Daren |date=12 April 2021 |editor-last=Toksabay |editor-first=Ece |editor2-last=Jones |editor2-first=Gareth |title=Canada scraps export permits for drone technology to Turkey, complains to Ankara |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-canada/turkey-calls-on-canada-to-review-defence-industry-restrictions-idUSKBN2BZ1XB |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412151738/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-canada/turkey-calls-on-canada-to-review-defence-industry-restrictions-idUSKBN2BZ1XB |archive-date=12 April 2021 |access-date=12 April 2021 |website=reuters}}

{{Further|Anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan|Anti-Azerbaijani sentiment in Armenia}}

While Armenians and Azerbaijanis lived side by side under Soviet rule, the collapse of the Soviet Union contributed to racialisation and fierce nationalism, causing both Armenians and Azerbaijanis to stereotype each other, shaping rhetoric on both sides.{{cite web|last=Oskanian|first=Kevork|title=Perspectives {{!}} Stereotypes and hatred drive the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict {{!}} Eurasianet|url=https://eurasianet.org/perspectives-stereotypes-and-hatred-drive-the-nagorno-karabakh-conflict|access-date=11 October 2020|website=eurasianet.org}} Before, during and after the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, the growth of anti-Armenian and anti-Azerbaijan sentiment resulted in ethnic violence, including pogroms against Armenians in Azerbaijan, as in Sumgait and Baku,{{cite book|last=Cornell|first=Svante|title=Azerbaijan Since Independence|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|year=2010|isbn=978-0765630032|page=48}}{{cite news|title=Rferl.org: Nagorno-Karabakh: Timeline Of The Long Road To Peace|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=2 February 2012 |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1065626.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329025222/http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1065626.html|archive-date=29 March 2014|access-date=2 January 2020}}{{cite news|date=3 February 2003|title=Newsline|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1142847.html|url-status=live|access-date=31 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006122039/http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1142847.html|archive-date=6 October 2014}}{{cite web|date=17 June 2013|title=The South Caucasus Between The EU and the Eurasian Union|url=http://www.css.ethz.ch/publications/pdfs/CAD-51-52.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210003/http://www.css.ethz.ch/publications/pdfs/CAD-51-52.pdf|archive-date=29 October 2013|access-date=3 July 2013|work=Caucasus Analytical Digest #51–52|publisher=Forschungsstelle Osteuropa, Bremen and Center for Security Studies, Zürich|page=21|issn=1867-9323}} and against Azerbaijanis in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as at Gugark and Stepanakert.

File:Nj-38-4-stepanakert-ussr-iran-croppedv1.png, which has less mountainous terrain compared to the region's northern and central territories.]]

In a 27 September 2020 interview, regional expert Thomas de Waal said that it was highly unlikely that hostilities were initiated by the Armenian side, as they were already in possession of the disputed territory and were incentivised to normalise the status quo, while "for various reasons, Azerbaijan calculate[d] that military action w[ould] win it something".{{cite web|url=https://ahvalnews.com/azerbaijan-armenia/armenia-lacks-incentives-launch-military-action-now-azerbaijan-moved-first|title=Armenia lacks incentives to launch military action now, Azerbaijan moved in first|first=Thomas|last=de Waal|publisher=Ahval News|date=27 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2020|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004000353/https://ahvalnews.com/azerbaijan-armenia/armenia-lacks-incentives-launch-military-action-now-azerbaijan-moved-first|url-status=dead}} The suspected immediate goal of the Azerbaijani offensive was to capture the districts of Fuzuli and Jabrayil in southern Nagorno-Karabakh, where the terrain is less mountainous and more favourable for offensive operations. Political scientist Arkady Dubnov of the Carnegie Moscow Center{{cite web|title=Аркадий Дубнов|url=https://carnegie.ru/commentary/experts/1113|access-date=8 October 2020|publisher=Carnegie Moscow Center|language=ru}}{{cite web|title=Аркадий Дубнов|url=https://globalaffairs.ru/authors/arkadij-dubnov/|access-date=8 October 2020|website=Россия в глобальной политике|language=ru}} believed that Azerbaijan had launched the offensive to improve Azerbaijan's position in a suitable season for hostilities in the terrain.{{cite web|last=Аркадий|first=Дубнов|title=Карабах: вулкан проснулся — Аркадий Дубнов — В круге СВЕТА — Эхо Москвы, 29.09.2020|url=https://echo.msk.ru/programs/sorokina/2716421-echo/|access-date=8 October 2020|website=Эхо Москвы|language=ru}}

The geostrategic interests of Russia and Turkey in the region were widely commented upon during the war.{{cite web|url=https://www.evnreport.com/politics/the-2020-artsakh-war-what-the-world-lacks-now-is-leadership|first=Daniel|last=Tahmazyan|title=The 2020 Artsakh War: What the World Lacks Now Is Leadership|website=evnreport.com|date=30 November 2020|access-date=3 December 2020}} Both were described as benefiting from the ceasefire agreement, with The Economist stating that for Russia, China and Turkey, "all sides stand to benefit economically".{{cite news|title=A peace deal ends a bloody war over Nagorno-Karabakh|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/11/14/a-peace-deal-ends-a-bloody-war-over-nagorno-karabakh|access-date=18 November 2020|newspaper=The Economist|date=14 November 2020}} In late October, massed Russian airstrikes targeted a training camp for Failaq al-Sham, one of the largest Turkish-backed Sunni Islamist rebel groups in Syria's Idlib province, killing 78 militants in an act widely interpreted as a warning shot to Ankara over the latter's involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh fighting.{{cite news|title=Turkish-backed Syrian rebels killed in Russian airstrike|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/turkish-backed-syrian-rebels-killed-in-russian-airstrike/ar-BB1arD6d|access-date=22 November 2020|work=MSN News|date=27 October 2020}}{{cite news|title=Air raids in northwest Syria camp kill dozens of rebel fighters|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/26/airstrike-in-northwestern-syria-kills-over-50-rebel-fighters|access-date=22 November 2020|work=Al Jazeera|date=26 October 2020}}

Azerbaijan and Turkey are bound by ethnic, cultural and historic ties, and both countries refer to their relationship as being one between "two states, one nation".{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/turkey-territorial-disputes-azerbaijan-ankara-armenia-9a95d9690569623adedffe8c16f3588d|first=Suzan|last=Fraser|title=AP Explains: What lies behind Turkish support for Azerbaijan|date=20 October 2020|access-date=20 October 2020|work=Associated Press}} Turkey (then the Ottoman Empire) helped Azerbaijan, previously part of the Russian Empire gain its independence in 1918, and became the first country to recognise Azerbaijan's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.{{cite web|first=Chinara|last=Musayeva|url=https://tasam.org/Files/Icerik/File/history_of_azerbaijan_-_turkey_relations_e78c28df-19cc-4d90-b290-b5bb571bc6d8.pdf|title=History of Azerbaijan – Turkey Relations|publisher=Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies}} Turkey has also been the guarantor of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an exclave of Azerbaijan, since 1921.{{cite web|url=https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijan-building-up-forces-in-nakhchivan|first=Zaur|last=Shiriyev|title=Azerbaijan Building Up Forces in Nakhchivan|date=10 August 2017|access-date=20 October 2020|publisher=Eurasianet}}{{cite journal|first=Laçin İdil|last=Öztığ|url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/559558|title=TÜRKİYE VE ERMENİSTAN İLİŞKİLERİNDE NAHÇIVAN SORUNU|date=26 January 2018|access-date=20 October 2020|journal=Journal of Modern Turkish History Studies|via=DergiPark|language=tr|volume=36|pages=413–430}} Other commentators have seen Turkey's support for Azerbaijan as part of an activist foreign policy, linking it with neo-Ottoman policies in Syria, Iraq, and the Eastern Mediterranean.{{cite news|last=Ulgen|first=Sinan|title=A Weak Economy Won't Stop Turkey's Activist Foreign Policy|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/10/06/a-weak-economy-wont-stop-turkeys-activist-foreign-policy/|access-date=15 November 2020|work=Foreign Policy|date=6 October 2020}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19436149.2018.1549232|doi=10.1080/19436149.2018.1549232|title=Imperial Grandeur and Selective Memory: Re-assessing Neo-Ottomanism in Turkish Foreign and Domestic Politics|year=2019|last=Wastnidge|first=Edward|journal=Middle East Critique|volume=28|pages=7–28|s2cid=149534930}} Turkey's highly visible role in the conflict was described by Armenians as a continuation of the Armenian genocide, the mass murder and expulsion of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman government, particularly given Turkey's continued denial of the genocide.{{cite web |last=Faulconbridge |first=Guy |date=7 October 2020 |editor-last=Fernandez |editor-first=Clarence |title=Armenia says Turkey seeks to continue genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-pashinyan-idUSKBN26S0OS |access-date=22 October 2020 |work=Reuters}}{{cite web|title=Turkey actions amount to "terroristic attack", continuation of genocide: Armenian PM|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/10/07/Turkey-actions-amount-to-terroristic-attack-continuation-of-genocide-Armenian-PM|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=7 October 2020|access-date=22 October 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Safi |first1=Michael |last2=McKernan |first2=Bethan |date=3 October 2020 |title="Defend our nation": Armenian diaspora feels pull of another war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/03/armenian-diaspora-feels-pull-of-another-war-kardashian-azerbaijan |access-date=23 October 2020 |work=The Guardian}}{{cite web |last=Hincks |first=Joseph |date=6 October 2020 |title=Armenia's Prime Minister Accuses Turkey of 'Reinstating the Ottoman Empire' in Sending Mercenaries to Nagorno Karabakh |url=https://time.com/5896422/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-2020/ |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006102529/https://time.com/5896422/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-2020/ |archive-date=6 October 2020 |access-date=16 October 2020 |website=Time}} Turkey provided military support to Azerbaijan, including military experts and Syrian mercenaries. The transport communications stipulated by the ceasefire agreement, linking Nakhchivan and the main part of Azerbaijan through Armenia, would provide Turkey with trade access to Central Asia and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Russia had sought to maintain good relations with Azerbaijan and had sold weapons to both parties. Even prior to the war, Russia had possessed a military base in Armenia as part of a military alliance with Armenia, and thus was obligated by treaty to defend Armenia in the case of a war. Like in Syria and in Libya's ongoing civil war, Russia and NATO-member Turkey therefore had opposing interests.{{cite web |last=Bremmer |first=Ian |date=October 2020 |title=Why The Armenia-Azerbaijan Fighting Could Spiral Into A Larger Regional Conflict |url=https://time.com/5894934/armenia-azerbaijan-fighting-regional-conflict/ |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002150542/https://time.com/5894934/armenia-azerbaijan-fighting-regional-conflict/ |archive-date=2 October 2020 |access-date=15 October 2020 |website=Time}} Turkey appeared to use the conflict to attempt to leverage its influence in the South Caucasus along its eastern border, using both military and diplomatic resources to extend its sphere of influence in the Middle East, and to marginalise the influence of Russia, another regional power.{{cite web|date=29 September 2020|title=Is Turkey a brother in arms or just extending its footprint into Nagorno-Karabakh?|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200929-is-turkey-a-brother-in-arms-or-just-extending-its-footprint-into-nagorno-karabakh|access-date=4 October 2020|publisher=France 24}}{{cite news|last=Gall|first=Carlotta|date=1 October 2020|title=Turkey Jumps Into Another Foreign Conflict, This Time in the Caucasus|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/world/middleeast/turkey-azerbaijan-armenia-war.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002183006/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/world/middleeast/turkey-azerbaijan-armenia-war.html |archive-date=2 October 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=4 October 2020|issn=0362-4331}} Russia had historically pursued a policy of maintaining neutrality in the conflict, and Armenia never formally requested aid. According to the director of the Russia studies program at the CNA, at the beginning of the war Russia was judged to be unlikely to intervene militarily unless Armenia incurred drastic losses. The Russian MoFA also released a statement, saying that Russia will provide Armenia with "all the necessary assistance" if the war continued on the territories of Armenia, as both countries are part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.[https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/4411939 Foreign Ministry statement in connection with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan's address to President of Russia Vladimir Putin (in Russian)]{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/9ca3163a-d267-4ac2-bfc3-77f86995dc75|title=Armenia calls for Russian help as fight with Azerbaijan intensifies|newspaper=Financial Times|date=November 2020|url-access=subscription|last1=Foy|first1=Henry|last2=Seddon|first2=Max}} Nonetheless, when the Azerbaijani forces reportedly struck the Armenian territories on 14 October 2020, Russia did not directly interfere in the conflict.{{cite news |last1=Agayev |first1=Zulfugar |last2=Khojoyan |first2=Sara |date=14 October 2020 |title=Azerbaijan Attack on Armenia Raises Stakes in Karabakh Conflict |publisher=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-14/azerbaijan-attack-on-armenia-raises-stakes-in-karabakh-conflict |access-date=15 October 2020}}

In a piece published by the Russian broadsheet {{lang|ru-latn|Vedomosti}} on 10 November, Konstantin Makienko, a member of the State Duma Defence Committee, wrote that the geopolitical consequences of the war were "catastrophic" not only for Armenia but for Russia as well, because Moscow's influence in the Southern Caucasus had dwindled while "the prestige of a successful and feisty Turkey, contrariwise, had increased immensely".{{cite news |author=Makienko |first=Konstantin |date=10 November 2020 |title=Как Россия проиграла во второй карабахской войне |language=ru |newspaper=Vedomosti |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/opinion/articles/2020/11/10/846462-rossiya-proigrala}} Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Moscow Center took the opposite view, describing the peace agreement as "a win for Russia", as it had "prevented the conclusive defeat of Nagorno-Karabakh" and, by placing Russia in charge of the strategic Lachin corridor, boosted the country's leverage in the region.{{cite news|last=Gabuev|first=Alexander|title=Viewpoint: Russia and Turkey – unlikely victors of Karabakh conflict|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54903869|access-date=18 November 2020|work=BBC News|agency=Carnegie Moscow Center|date=12 November 2020}}

The relative success of Azerbaijan in meeting its strategic goals to gain control over Nagorno-Karabakh via the use of military force may have influenced the Russian decision to invade Ukraine in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Anna |date=2023-02-20 |title=Why Is the EU Deploying a Mission in Armenia and What to Expect? |url=https://evnreport.com/politics/why-is-the-eu-deploying-a-mission-in-armenia-and-what-to-expect/ |website=EVN Report |language=en-US}}

File:Bayraktar TB2 at 2020 Victory Parade in Baku.jpg at the 2020 Baku Victory Parade. Bayraktar TB2 drones were used extensively by Azerbaijani forces during the war.]]

Azerbaijan's oil wealth allowed a consistently higher military budget than Armenia, and it purchased advanced weapons systems from Israel, Russia and Turkey. Despite the similar size of both militaries, Azerbaijan possessed superior tanks, armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, and had also amassed a fleet of Turkish and Israeli drones. Armenia built its own drones, but these were greatly inferior to the Turkish and Israeli drones owned by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan had a quantitative advantage in artillery systems, particularly self-propelled guns and long-range multiple rocket launchers, while Armenia had a minor advantage in tactical ballistic missiles. Because of the air defence systems of both sides, there was little use of manned aviation during the conflict. In the opinion of military analyst Michael Kofman, Director of the Russia Studies Program at the CNA and a Fellow at the Kennan Institute, Azerbaijan deployed mercenaries from Syria to minimise Azeri troop casualties: "They took quite a few casualties early on, especially in the south-east, and these mercenaries were essentially used as expendable assault troops to go in the first wave. They calculated quite cynically that if it turned out these offensives were not successful early on, then it was best these casualties would be among mercenaries not Azerbaijani forces."{{cite web|last=Butler|first=Ed|title=The Syrian mercenaries used as 'cannon fodder' in Nagorno-Karabakh|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-55238803|date=10 December 2020|website=BBC}}

According to Gustav Gressel, a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, the Armenian Army was superior to the Azerbaijani Army on a tactical level, with better officers, more agile leadership, and higher motivation in soldiers but these were overcome by Azerbaijan's innovative use of drones to discover Armenian forward and reserve positions followed by conventional artillery and ballistic missiles to isolate and destroy Armenian forces. Gressel argues that European militaries are not better prepared for anti-drone warfare than Armenia's (with only France and Germany having some limited jamming capabilities) and warns that a lack of gun-based self-propelled air-defence systems and radar systems capable of tracking drones (using "plot-fusion" of several radar echoes) makes European forces extremely vulnerable to loitering munitions and small drones.

In the opinion of a Forbes magazine contributor, Azerbaijan managed to inflict a devastating and decisive defeat through adept usage of sophisticated military hardware which avoided bogging down in a costly war of attrition. According to Forbes, Azerbaijan had prepared itself for tomorrow's war rather than a repeat of yesterday's war.{{cite news |last1=Iddon |first1=Paul |title=The Last Azerbaijan-Armenia War Changed How Small Nations Fight Modern Battles |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2021/03/25/the-last-azerbaijan-armenia-war-redefined-how-small-nations-fight-modern-battles/ |access-date=28 March 2021 |agency=Forbes |date=28 March 2021}}

The International Institute for Strategic Studies presented a summary of analyses by Russian military experts, who concluded that the Azerbaijani victory was not just a result of drone warfare and Turkish assistance, but could actually be attributed to a number of other factors, such as a more professional army with recent battlefield experience, employment by Armenia of Soviet-era tactics against the modern warfare waged by Azerbaijan, a strong national will to fight on part of Azerbaijan compared to irresolute Armenian leadership, and the Armenians believing their own propaganda and underestimating the enemy.{{cite news |last1=Stronell |first1=Alexander |title=Learning the lessons of Nagorno-Karabakh the Russian way |url=https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2021/03/lessons-of-nagorno-karabakh |access-date=28 March 2021 |agency=IISS |date=10 March 2021}}

In the opinion voiced by Russian military expert Vladimir Yevseev after the war, for unclear reasons Armenia appeared not to have executed the mobilisation it had announced and hardly any mobilised personnel were deployed to the conflict area.{{cite news|url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/30956980.html|title=РФ могла оказывать поддержку только с территории Ирана|newspaper=Радио Свобода |date=18 November 2020|language=ru|last1=Рыковцева |first1=Елена }}

File:Baku pipelines.svg (green) is one of several pipelines running from Baku.]]

Azerbaijan made devastating use of drones and sensors, demonstrating what The Economist described as a "new, more affordable type of air power". Azerbaijani drones, notably the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2, carried out precise strikes as well as reconnaissance, relaying the coordinates of targets to Azerbaijani artillery. Commentators noted how drones enabled small countries to conduct effective air campaigns, potentially making low-level conflicts much more deadly.{{cite web|last=Roblin|first=Sébastien|title=How an explosion of cheap armed drones is changing the nature of warfare|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/cheap-drones-china-turkey-israel-are-fueling-conflicts-armenia-azerbaijan-ncna1243246|website=NBC News|date=14 October 2020 }} Close air support was provided by specialised suicide drones such as the Israeli-made IAI Harop loitering munition, rendering tanks vulnerable and suggesting the need for changes to armoured warfare doctrine.{{cite web|last=Parakilas|first=Jacob|title=Tanks versus Drones Isn't Rock, Paper, Scissors|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/tanks-vs-drones-isnt-rock-paper-scissors/|access-date=15 October 2020|website=thediplomat.com}} Another suicide drone, the Turkish-made STM Kargu, was also reportedly used by Azerbaijan.{{cite web |last=Mehmet |first=Fatih |date=29 October 2020 |title=STM'nin yerli kamikaze İHA'sı KARGU Azerbaycan'da görüldü |url=https://www.defenceturk.net/stmnin-yerli-kamikaze-ihasi-kargu-azerbaycanda-goruldu |language=tr}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnnturk.com/dunya/ilk-kez-libyada-kullanilmisti-bu-kez-azerbaycanda-goruntulendi|title=İlk kez Libya'da kullanılmıştı! Bu kez Azerbaycan'da görüntülendi|date=28 September 2020|language=tr|publisher=CNN Türk}}

Concerns were raised about the security of the petroleum industry in Azerbaijan.{{cite news |last=O'Byrne |first=David |date=9 October 2020 |title=Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict poses threat to regional energy corridor |publisher=Eurasianet |url=https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijan-armenia-conflict-poses-threat-to-regional-energy-corridor}}{{cite news|title=BP "deeply concerned" as pipeline attack raises stakes in Azerbaijan conflict|url=https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/natural-gas/100720-bp-deeply-concerned-as-pipeline-attack-raises-stakes-in-azerbaijan-conflict|publisher=S&P Global|date=7 October 2020}} Azerbaijan claimed that Armenia targeted, or tried to target, the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, which accounted for around 80% of country's oil exports, and the Baku–Novorossiysk pipeline.{{cite web|url=https://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Armenia-tries-to-target-Baku-Novorossiysk-pipeline-leading-to-Russia.html|title=Armenia tries to target Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline leading to Russia|date=19 October 2020|website=vestnikkavkaza.net|access-date=28 October 2020|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130230936/https://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Armenia-tries-to-target-Baku-Novorossiysk-pipeline-leading-to-Russia.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last=Rehimov |first=Ruslan |date=6 October 2020 |title=Armenia reportedly attacks Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline |publisher=Anadolu Agency |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/azerbaijan-front-line/armenia-reportedly-attacks-baku-tbilisi-ceyhan-pipeline/1998053}}{{cite news|title=Azerbaijan warns over pipelines as Nagorno-Karabakh tensions rise|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/azerbaijan/news/azerbaijan-warns-over-pipelines-as-nagorno-karabakh-tensions-rise/|publisher=EURACTIV|date=15 October 2020}} Armenia rejected the accusations.{{cite news|title=Azerbaijan Says Pipeline Targeted In Fighting; Armenia Rejects Accusation|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-says-pipeline-targeted-in-fighting-armenia-rejects-accusation/30879737.html|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=7 October 2020}}

File:Photo of the Armenian soldier from the frontline (Yerevan, Armenia).jpg began displaying footage released by the Armenian Ministry of Defence at the beginning of the conflict.]]

{{See also|State-sponsored Internet propaganda}}

Both sides engaged in extensive propaganda campaigns through official mainstream and social media accounts magnified online, including in Russian media. Video from drones recording their kills was used in highly effective Azerbaijani propaganda. In Baku, digital billboards broadcast high-resolution footage of missiles striking Armenian soldiers, tanks, and materiel. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev told Turkish television that Azerbaijani-operated drones had reduced the number of Azerbaijan's casualties, stating, "These drones show Turkey's strength" and "empower" Azerbaijanis.

Hackers from Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as their allied countries have waged cyberwarfare, with Azerbaijani hackers targeting Armenian websites and posting Aliyev's statements,{{cite news|url=https://www.azerbaycan24.com/en/azerbaijani-hackers-broke-into-over-90-armenian-websites-video/|title=Azerbaijani hackers broke into over 90 armenian websites – VIDEO|website=azerbaycan24.com|date=27 September 2020|access-date=23 October 2020}} and Greek hackers targeting Azerbaijani governmental websites.{{cite news|url=https://artsakh.news/en/news/190391|title=Greek hackers from Anonymous Greece hacked 159 state websites of Azerbaijan|website=artsakhnews|date=23 October 2020|access-date=23 October 2020}} There have been coordinated messages posted from both sides. Misinformation and videos of older events and other conflicts have been shared as new. New social media accounts posting about Armenia and Azerbaijan have spiked, with many from authentic users, but many inauthentic also.{{cite web|last=Giles|first=Christopher|title=Nagorno-Karabakh: The Armenian-Azeri "information wars"|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54614392|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 October 2020|date=26 October 2020}}{{cite web|title=Fighting Over Nagorno-Karabakh Spells Spike For Twitter And Its Hashtag Narratives|url=https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/nagorno-karabakh-figiting-spike-twitter-hashtag-narratives-armenia-azerbaijan/30894315.html|publisher=Gandhara|access-date=27 October 2020|date=15 October 2020}} According to the EU Parliament, Azerbaijani information operations also specifically aimed at harassing Armenia social media users.{{Cite web |last=Kovatchev |first=Andrey |date=2023-02-20 |title=REPORT on EU-Armenia relations {{!}} A9-0036/2023 {{!}} European Parliament |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2023-0036_EN.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |language=en |quote="Armenia is the target of Azerbaijani information operations, in particular with the aim of harassing social media users and disseminating false information"}}

On 27 September 2020, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, accused the Azerbaijani authorities of a large-scale provocation. The Prime Minister stated that the "recent aggressive statements of the Azerbaijani leadership, large-scale joint military exercises with Turkey, as well as the rejection of OSCE proposals for monitoring" indicated that the aggression was pre-planned and constituted a major violation of regional peace and security.{{cite web |date=27 September 2020 |editor-last=Kocharyan |editor-first=Stepan |title=All past actions of Azerbaijan indicate the attack on Artsakh was pre-planned, says PM Pashinyan |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1028969 |access-date=28 September 2020 |website=armenpress.am |publisher=Armenpress}} The next day, Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a statement, noting that the "people of Artsakh were at war with the Turkish–Azerbaijani alliance".{{cite news|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029219|title=Artsakh people fighting against Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance – Armenia MFA|website=armenpress.am|publisher=Armenpress|date=28 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2020}}

The same day, the Armenian ambassador to Russia, Vardan Toganyan, did not rule out that Armenia may turn to Russia for fresh arms supplies.{{cite news |date=28 September 2020 |title=Armenia doesn't rule out potential new weapons supplies from Russia |website=armenpress.am |publisher=Armenpress |editor-last=Kocharyan |editor-first=Stepan |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029218 |access-date=28 September 2020}} On 29 September 2020, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that Azerbaijan, with military support from Turkey, was expanding the theatre into Armenian territory.{{cite news |date=29 September 2020 |title=Azerbaijan expanding geography of hostilities with active support of Turkey – PM Pashinyan |website=armenpress.am |publisher=Armenpress |editor-last=Sirekanyan |editor-first=Tigran |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029486.html |access-date=29 September 2020}} On 30 September 2020, Pashinyan stated that Armenia was considering officially recognising the Republic of Artsakh as an independent territory.{{cite news |date=30 September 2020 |title=Armenia considers officially recognizing independence of Nagorno Karabakh, Pashinyan says |website=armenpress.am |publisher=Armenpress |editor-last=Kocharyan |editor-first=Stepan |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029566.html |access-date=30 September 2020}} The same day, the Armenian MoFA stated that the Turkish Air Force had carried out provocative flights along the front between the forces of the Republic of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, including providing air support to the Azerbaijani army.{{cite web|url=https://www.mfa.am/hy/interviews-articles-and-comments/2020/09/30/MFA_Turkey_Statement/10476|title=ՀՀ ԱԳՆ հայտարարությունը Թուրքիայի ԶՈՒ ներգրավվածության վերաբերյալ|publisher=MFA|date=30 September 2020|language=hy}}

On 1 October 2020, the President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, stated that Armenians needed to prepare for a long-term war.{{cite web|title=Putin, Macron call for Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire as deaths mount|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/1/putin-macron-call-for-nagorno-karabakh-ceasefire-as-deaths-mount|website=Al Jazeera|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=1 October 2020}} Two days later, the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Foreign Ministry called on the international community to recognise the independence of the Republic of Artsakh in order to restore regional peace and security.{{cite web|url=https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/285974/|title=Karabakh urges international community to recognize its independence|publisher=PanArmenian|quote=Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Foreign Ministry on Saturday, October 3 called on the international community to recognize the independence of Artsakh.}}

On 6 October 2020, the Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, stated that the Armenian side was prepared to make concessions, if Azerbaijan was ready to reciprocate.{{cite web|title=Пашинян: Ереван готов к уступкам в карабахском конфликте, если к этому же готовы в Баку|url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/9645263|access-date=29 October 2020|agency=ТАСС}}

On 9 October 2020, Armen Sarkissian demanded that international powers, particularly, the United States, Russia and NATO, do more to stop Turkey's involvement in the war and warned that Ankara is creating "another Syria in the Caucasus".{{cite web|url=https://hetq.am/en/article/122861|title="Turkey creating "another Syria in Caucasus", Armenian President Tells Financial Times|date=9 October 2020|website=hetq.am|publisher=Hetq}}

On 21 October 2020, Nikol Pashinyan stated that "it is impossible to talk about a diplomatic solution at this stage, at least at this stage", since the compromise option is not acceptable for Azerbaijan, while the Armenian side stated many times that it is ready to resolve the issue through compromises. Pashinyan said that "to fight for the rights of our people means, first of all, to take up arms and commit to the protection of the rights of the homeland".{{cite web |last=Karapetyan |first=Marianna |date=21 October 2020 |title=There is no diplomatic solution to Karabakh issue, at least not in this stage |url=https://en.armradio.am/2020/10/21/pm-there-is-no-diplomatic-solution-to-karabakh-issue-at-least-not-in-this-stage/ |website=armradio.am |publisher=Public Radio of Armenia}}

On 12 November 2020, Pashinyan addressed his nation, saying that "Armenia and the Armenian people are living extremely difficult days. There is sorrow in the hearts of all of us, tears in the eyes of all of us, pain in the souls of all of us". The prime minister pointed out that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia reported that the war "must be stopped immediately". And the President of Artsakh warned that if the hostilities do not stop, Stepanakert could be lost in days. Pashinyan also stated that the Karabakh issue was not resolved and is not resolved and that the international recognition of the Artsakh Republic is becoming an absolute priority.{{cite web|url=https://hetq.am/en/article/124228|title=Pashinyan to Nation: "Karabakh Issue Has Not Been Resolved"|date=12 November 2020|website=hetq.am|publisher=Hetq}}

File:Ilham Aliyev chaired a Security Council meeting (cropped).png Ilham Aliyev with the country's Security Council on 27 September 2020]]

According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence, the Armenian military violated the ceasefire 48 times along the line of contact on 26 September 2020, the day before the conflict. Azerbaijan stated that the Armenian side attacked first, prompting an Azerbaijani counter-offensive.{{cite web|url=https://mod.gov.az/en/frontline-news-557/|title=26 September 2020 09:40|publisher=Defence Ministry of Azerbaijan|date=26 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2020}}

On 27 September 2020, Azerbaijan accused Armenian forces of a "willful and deliberate" attack on the front line{{cite web|url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/673912/Heavy-fighting-erupts-in-Nagorny-Karabakh|title=Heavy fighting erupts in Nagorny Karabak|date=27 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2020|publisher=Gulf Times}} and of targeting civilian areas, alleging a "gross violation of international humanitarian law".{{cite news|url=https://azertag.az/en/xeber/Hikmat_Hajiyev_Armenia_039s_deliberate_targeting_of_residential_areas_and_the_civilians_is_a_gross_violation_of_international_humanitarian_law-1596165|title=Hikmat Hajiyev: Armenia's deliberate targeting of residential areas and the civilians is a gross violation of international humanitarian law|website=azertag.az|publisher=Azerbaijan State News Agency|date=27 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2020}} On 28 September 2020, it stated that Armenia's actions had destroyed the peace negotiations through an act of aggression,{{cite news |last=Kazımoğlu |first=Mirmahmud |date=28 September 2020 |title=Hikmət Hacıyev: "Ordumuz Azərbaycan ərazisinin təhlükəsizliyini təmin edir" |language=az |website=report.az |publisher=Report Information Agency |url=https://report.az/dagliq-qarabag-munaqishesi/hikmet-haciyev-ordumuz-azerbaycan-erazisinin-tehlukesizliyini-temin-edir/ |access-date=28 September 2020}} alleged that a war had been launched against Azerbaijan, mobilised the people of Azerbaijan, and declared a Great Patriotic War.{{cite news |last=Kazımoğlu |first=Mirmahmud |date=28 September 2020 |title=Prezidentin köməkçisi: "Bu, Azərbaycan xalqının Böyük Vətən Müharibəsidir" |language=az |website=report.az |publisher=Report Information Agency |url=https://report.az/dagliq-qarabag-munaqishesi/prezidentin-komekcisi-azerbaycana-qarsi-muharibe-baslayib/ |access-date=28 September 2020}} It then stated that the deployment of the Armenian military in Nagorno-Karabakh constituted a threat to regional peace and accused Armenia of propagandising, adding that the Azerbaijani military was operating according to international law.{{cite news|url=https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/Hikmat-Hajiyev:-%22Armenia-prepares-very-false-and-needless-information%22-331408|title=Hikmat Hajiyev: "Armenia prepares very false and needless information"|website=apa.az|date=28 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2020}} The Azerbaijani authorities issued a statement accusing the Armenian military of purposefully targeting civilians, including women and children.{{cite news |last=Qabil |first=Əsmər |date=28 September 2020 |title=Dövlət Komitəsi Ermənistan silahlı qüvvələrinin qadın və uşaqları qətlə yetirməsinə dair bəyanat yayıb |language=az |website=apa.az |url=https://apa.az/az/sosial_xeberler/Dovlt-Komitsi-Ermnistan-silahli-quvvlrinin-qadin-v-usaqlari-qtl-yetirmsin-dair-byanat-yayib-607424 |access-date=28 September 2020}} The Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) denied any reports of Turkish involvement, while admitting military-technical cooperation with Turkey and other countries.{{cite news|url=https://regnum.ru/news/polit/3075510.html|title=Азербайджан ответил на обвинения Армении в привлечении наёмников|website=regnum.ru|publisher=REGNUM News Agency|language=ru|date=28 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2020}}

On 29 September 2020, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, said that Armenian control of the area and aggression had led to the destruction of infrastructure and mosques, caused the Khojaly massacre and resulted in cultural genocide, and was tantamount to state-backed Islamophobia and anti-Azerbaijani sentiment.{{cite news|url=https://azertag.az/xeber/Prezident_Ilham_Aliyev_Islamofobiya_ve_Azerbaycanofobiya_siyaseti_artiq_Ermenistanin_resmi_ideologiyasina_chevrilib-1598429|title=Prezident İlham Əliyev: İslamofobiya və Azərbaycanofobiya siyasəti artıq Ermənistanın rəsmi ideologiyasına çevrilib|website=azertag.az|publisher=Azerbaijan State News Agency|language=az|date=29 September 2020|access-date=29 September 2020}} The Azerbaijani MoFA demanded that Armenia stop shelling civilians and called on international organisations to ensure Armenia followed international law.{{cite news |last=Vahid |first=Firuza |date=29 September 2020 |title=MFA: We demand from Armenia to stop shelling civilians |website=apa.az |url=https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/MFA:-We-demand-from-Armenia-to-stop-shelling-civilians-331517 |access-date=29 September 2020}} Azerbaijan denied reports of mercenaries brought in from Turkey by Azerbaijan,{{Cite web|date=1 October 2020|title=Ambassador: If Armenia recognizes "independence" of Karabakh, it would mean burning all bridges|url=https://www.azernews.az/karabakh/169738.html|access-date=13 October 2021|website=AzerNews.az|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=28 September 2020 |title=Azerbaijan denies Turkey sent it fighters from Syria |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/28/azerbaijan-denies-turkey-sent-it-fighters-from-syria |access-date=12 October 2021 |website=Al Jazeera}} and the First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, stated that Azerbaijan had never laid claim to others' territory nor committed crimes against humanity.{{cite news|url=https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/Mehriban-Aliyeva:-%22May-the-Almighty-grant-every-Azerbaijani-the-chance-to-kiss-the-sacred-Karabakh-soil!%22-331594|title=Mehriban Aliyeva: "May the Almighty grant every Azerbaijani the chance to kiss the sacred Karabakh soil!"|website=apa.az|date=29 September 2020|access-date=29 September 2020}}

On 3 October 2020, Aliyev stated that Armenia needed to leave Azerbaijan's territory (in Nagorno-Karabakh) for the war to stop.{{cite web |last1=Geybullaeva |first1=Arzu |last2=Melikyan |first2=Aren |date=3 October 2020 |title=President of Azerbaijan tells Armenia to 'leave our territory, and then, the war will stop' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/03/asia/azerbaijan-armenia-president-intl/index.html |access-date=4 October 2020 |publisher=CNN}} The next day, Aliyev issued an official statement that Azerbaijan was "writing a new history", describing Karabakh as an ancient Azerbaijani territory and longstanding home to Azerbaijanis, and claiming that Armenians had occupied Azerbaijan's territory, destroying its religious and cultural heritage, for three decades. He added that Azerbaijan would restore its cities and destroyed mosques and accused Armenia of distorting history.{{cite news|date=4 October 2020|title=President Ilham Aliyev: Today we are writing a new history of our people and state, a glorious history|website=apa.az|url=https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/President-Ilham-Aliyev:-Today-we-are-writing-a-new-history-of-our-people-and-state-a-glorious-history-332072|access-date=4 October 2020|quote=As you know, Azerbaijan has been fighting to restore its territorial integrity for a week now. On the battlefield, our soldiers and officers show heroism, inflict crushing blows on the enemy, put the enemy in its place, drive the enemy out of our lands at the cost of their lives... We are restoring historical justice today because the land of Karabakh is our ancient historical land. The people of Azerbaijan have lived, created and built in these lands for centuries. But for many years, for almost 30 years, Armenian executioners have occupied our lands, destroyed all our historical, religious and cultural sites. We will restore all our cities. We will restore all our mosques destroyed by the Armenians. Life will return to these places. We have put an end to the attempts of Armenians to change our historical names and falsify history, to erase the historical and cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people. The historical names of our settlements are being restored and they will be restored.}}

Two days later, Aliyev's aide, Hikmat Hajiyev, said that Armenia had deployed cluster munitions against cities,{{cite news|title=Ermenistan cepheden kaçıyor sivilleri vuruyor|language=tr|work=Dünya Bülteni|url=https://www.dunyabulteni.net/ortadogu/ermenistan-cepheden-kaciyor-sivilleri-vuruyor-h479865.html|access-date=5 October 2020|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008131417/https://www.dunyabulteni.net/ortadogu/ermenistan-cepheden-kaciyor-sivilleri-vuruyor-h479865.html|url-status=dead}} however this had not been verified by other sources. On 7 October 2020, Azerbaijan officially notified members of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice, the Conference of European Constitutional Courts, the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and similar organisations that it had launched the operation in line with international law to re-establish its internationally recognised territorial integrity and for the safety of its people.{{cite web |last=Rehimov |first=Ruslan |date=7 October 2020 |title=Azerbaijan sends notice to world courts on military ops |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/azerbaijan-front-line/azerbaijan-sends-notice-to-world-courts-on-military-ops/1998840 |access-date=18 October 2020 |publisher=Anadolu Agency}} He also accused Armenia of ethnic discrimination on account of the historical expulsion or self-exile of ethnic minority communities, highlighting its mono-ethnic population.{{cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=President Ilham Aliyev: "Armenia is a racist country, representatives of no other nationality can live there"|url=https://apa.az/en/nagorno_garabagh/President-Ilham-Aliyev:-%22Armenia-is-a-racist-country-representatives-of-no-other-nationality-can-live-there%22-332434|access-date=8 October 2020|website=apa.az|quote=There are representatives of many nationalities living in Azerbaijan. They live like one family. Azerbaijan is known as a multicultural country worldwide. This is acknowledged by the United Nations, as well as other international organizations operating in the humanitarian field. Azerbaijan is the land of tolerance, ethnic and religious tolerance. Thousands of Armenians live in our country today and they are our citizens. They also live normally, like all other nationalities. Of course, I am sure that after the end of this war and conflict, the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh today will live with us. Azerbaijan is a multinational country. This has been the case throughout history. I think this is our great advantage.}}

On 10 October 2020, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that the truce signed on the same day was temporary.{{cite news |author=Bagirova |first1=Nailia |last2=Tsvetkova |first2=Maria |date=10 October 2020 |title=Azeri foreign minister says Nagorno-Karabakh truce is temporary |work=Reuters |editor-last=Osborn |editor-first=Andrew |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-foreignminister-idCAKBN26V0JI |access-date=10 October 2020}} Despite this, Aliyev stated that both parties were now attempting to determine a political resolution to the conflict.{{cite news |last1=Hovhannisyan |first1=Nvard |last2=Bagirova |first2=Nailia |date=10 October 2020 |title=Armenia and Azerbaijan accuse each other of violating Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/armenia-azerbaijan-diplomacy-idUSKBN26V0AR |access-date=10 October 2020}}

On 21 October 2020, Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan did not rule out the introduction of international observers and peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, but will put forward some conditions when the time comes.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/22/azeri-president-says-armenians-can-have-cultural-autonomy|title=Azeri president says Armenians can have "cultural autonomy"|date=22 October 2020|access-date=22 October 2020|agency=Al Jazeera}} He then added that Azerbaijan did not agree for a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh,{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20201022/karabakh-1580992201.html|title=Алиев исключил возможность проведения референдума в Карабахе|date=22 October 2020|access-date=22 October 2020|language=ru|publisher=RIA Novosti}} but didn't exclude the cultural autonomy of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, and reaffirmed that the Azerbaijan considers Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh as their citizens, promising security and rights.{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20201022/armyane-1581006912.html|title=Права армян в Карабахе будут полностью соблюдены, заявил Алиев|date=22 October 2020|access-date=22 October 2020|language=ru|publisher=RIA Novosti}}

On 26 October 2020, Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijani government will inspect and record the destruction by Armenian forces in Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/live/news-54686682?ns_mchannel=social&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:685e43b5-6cb6-46d3-b1e3-d06cb7246c89|title=Алиев грозит Армении счетом за разоренные земли|date=26 October 2020|access-date=26 October 2020|language=ru|publisher=BBC Russian Service}}

{{Main|Allegations of third-party involvement in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War}}

Because of the geography, history, and sensitivities of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, accusations, allegations, and statements have been made of involvement by third-party and international actors.

{{Main|International reactions to the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War}}

{{Portal|Azerbaijan}}

• 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes
• Actions in support of Azerbaijan in Iran (2020)
• 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh
• Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis
• List of territorial disputes
• Republic of Armenia v. Republic of Azerbaijan (ICJ case)

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.euronews.com/2020/10/07/watch-live-azerbaijan-and-armenia-leaders-speak-exclusively-to-euronews Interview with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia]
• {{cite journal|url=https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/Disinformation-in-Armenia_En-v3.pdf|journal=Disinformation and Misinofrmation in Armenia Confronting the Power of False Narratives|date=June 2021|publisher=Freedom House|title=The Second Nagorno Karabakh War|pages=17–23}}
• {{cite web |last1=Michael |first1=A. Reynolds |url=https://warontherocks.com/2021/01/confidence-and-catastrophe-armenia-and-the-second-nagorno-karabakh-war/ |title=Confidence and Catastrophe: Armenia and the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War |publisher=War on the Rocks |date=January 2021 |location=Princeton University’s program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies}}

{{Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict}}

{{Wars involving Armenia}}

{{Wars involving Artsakh}}

{{Wars involving Azerbaijan}}

{{Post-Cold War Asian conflicts}}

{{Post-Cold War European conflicts|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

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