Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement over a stretch of border that would cut through four Armenian villages in the Tavush province. The first border marker has been installed, although its exact location is not yet known.
Despite the progress, protests have erupted in Armenia, with demonstrators blocking roads in the region that would be affected by the border change. Roadblocks have also been set up along other key routes in the country.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has called for a “realistic” approach to the peace negotiations, acknowledging the significant gap between the military capabilities of Armenia and Azerbaijan. He has also emphasized the need to define the border with Azerbaijan quickly to avoid further hostilities.
The demarcation process is part of a broader effort to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has been blocking the road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia since late 2022, which has led to severe shortages of food and medicine in the region. Russia, which had been stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh as peacekeepers, began withdrawing its forces this month.
The peace negotiations are being closely watched by the international community, as the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has the potential to destabilize the wider Caucasus region.
