Nagorno-Karabakh
In early 1990s news and photos from war affected Nagorno-Karabakh used to fill pages of world’s newspapers and magazines. During three years of conflict at least 30 000 people died on both sides. The terrible war in this mountainous region of southern Caucasus in which ethnic Armenians (supported by Armenia) fought against Azerbaijan for independent Karabakh ended in 1994 by signing a ceasefire. Although Armenians gained the control over the territory their unilaterally proclaimed republic however didn’t recognise any country in the world.
Sixteen years after the ceasefire this conflict remains still unsolved. The republic is dependent on Armenia’s large budgetary resources without which this heavily undeveloped country couldn’t exist. Due to economic problems the life is not easy here. The rate of unemployment is high, the living conditions low and infrastructure neglected. Many people from border areas still can’t return to their homes because of mine fields and sporadic fighting between Karabakh’s and Azerbaijan’s forces. Because of this conditions the population of the republic has shrunk by almost 70% during the last two decades. All 50,000 Azerbaijanis fled the region too.
The world has slowly forgotten about this part of the world and although Azerbaijan hasn’t gave up to regain control over this teritory, the remaining people are however optimistic and believe in their future, trying to rebuild their country and achive free, independent Nagorno-Karabakh.
(Photographed in August 2010)
All pictures and text on this site are Copyright © Rastislav Kolesar 2006-2018; all rights reserved. Contact me to buy prints or permission to reproduce pictures. High resolution versions are available.
Sixteen years after the ceasefire this conflict remains still unsolved. The republic is dependent on Armenia’s large budgetary resources without which this heavily undeveloped country couldn’t exist. Due to economic problems the life is not easy here. The rate of unemployment is high, the living conditions low and infrastructure neglected. Many people from border areas still can’t return to their homes because of mine fields and sporadic fighting between Karabakh’s and Azerbaijan’s forces. Because of this conditions the population of the republic has shrunk by almost 70% during the last two decades. All 50,000 Azerbaijanis fled the region too.
The world has slowly forgotten about this part of the world and although Azerbaijan hasn’t gave up to regain control over this teritory, the remaining people are however optimistic and believe in their future, trying to rebuild their country and achive free, independent Nagorno-Karabakh.
(Photographed in August 2010)
All pictures and text on this site are Copyright © Rastislav Kolesar 2006-2018; all rights reserved. Contact me to buy prints or permission to reproduce pictures. High resolution versions are available.