2020 Karabakh War

The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war was fought in the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabakh and neighboring regions between Azerbaijan, which was backed by Turkey, and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, which was backed by Armenia. 

It was the latest flare-up in an unresolved issue over the territory, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but is ruled in part by Artsakh, a breakaway state with a majority of Armenians.

Clashes erupted on the morning of September 27, 2020, along the Nagorno-Karabakh Contact line, which had been created following the 1988–1994 First Nagorno-Karabakh War. 

As a result, martial law and total mobilization were implemented in Armenia and Artsakh, while martial law, a curfew, and partial mobilization were implemented in Azerbaijan. 

Turkey supplied military assistance to Azerbaijan, albeit the degree of this assistance is debatable. Turkey's engagement is said to have been motivated by a desire to expand its sphere of influence, both by elevating Azerbaijan's status in the conflict and by undermining Russia's hold on the area.

The sides in the conflict will retain control of their currently held areas within Nagorno-Karabakh under the terms of the deal, while Armenia will surrender to Azerbaijan the surrounding territory it captured in 1994. 

Azerbaijan will also obtain access to its Nakhchivan exclave, which is bordered by Turkey and Iran. For at least five years, 2,000 Russian soldiers are stationed at the Lachin corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh as peacekeeping forces. 

Hundreds of Armenian prisoners of war were held captive and tormented in Azerbaijan as a result of the war. Despite calls from dozens of EU countries and international organizations for his immediate release, Azerbaijan has continued to prosecute them for "terrorist" and "illegal border crossing."