Tensions Rise Between Azerbaijani & Armenian Forces in Nagorno Karabakh

Tensions appear to be rising in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijani forces pushed into a village over the established line of contact that is maintained by Russian peacekeepers. This began after Russian peacekeepers negotiated that Azerbaijani and Armenian forces both pull back from areas around the village, with the idea that it can be maintained by peacekeepers to avoid any potential conflicts. It is reported that once Armenian forces withdrew, Azerbaijani forces moved in without any fighting. .Currently, Russian and Armenian officials are negotiating for Azerbaijani forces to return to their original positions. Azerbaijani forces are also said to have advanced towards the nearby village of Khramort, in which Armenian forces and volunteers have begun to mass as they believe Azerbaijani forces will also try to take this village as well. Negotiations are still underway, but there is the potential for tensions to boil over into clashes if this is not resolved. .On November 10, 2020, a peace agreement went into effect to end the hostilities of the 44 day war. Under the agreement, areas captured by Azerbaijani forces would remain in their control, while the districts of Agdam, Kalbajar and Lachin would be handed over as well. The move to end the war and hand over territory saw major backlash amongst Armenians, who felt that the current administration was essentially giving up. Large portions of central Nagorno-Karabakh, including its regional capital of Stepanakert, would remain under control of the Republic of Artsakh, an ethnic Armenian breakaway state. The line of contact between the two sides, as well as the Lachin Corridor, would be overseen and maintained by a contingent of Russian peacekeepers. The sake of the ceasefire agreement was also to be enforced by the Russians. Since the end of the war, there have been numerous clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along lines of contact, as well as disputes over demarcation lines. Azerbaijani forces have been repeatedly accused of pushing the envelope in a sense by routinely making small incursions across the line of contact. These tensions are likely to rise and fall over the next several years, with the possibility of another conflict to break out..#AtlasNewsUpdateNagornoKarabakh