Anna Matveeva: Crisis in the Caucasus could destabilise the whole of Eurasia

The west can play a role in brokering peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But for settlement to stick, Russia and Turkey must be involved

Ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh sit in a truck on their way to Goris in the Syunik region of Armenia, on Tuesday. Thousands of Armenians have streamed out of Nagorno-Karabakh after the Azerbaijani military reclaimed full control of the breakaway region last week. Picture: Gaiane Yenokian/AP

In the past few days there has been a steady stream of ethnic Armenians fleeing the contested region of Narogno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan launched a 24-hour assault on the Armenian enclave, which is surrounded by Azerbaijani territory, on September 19 and, following a ceasefire brokered the following day, refugees have been allowed to leave via the narrow Lachin corridor, which connects the enclave with Armenia.

As of September 27, it was estimated that nearly 30,000 people had made the crossing since it was opened on September 24. It is expected that many of the estimated 120,000 Karabakhi Armenians will leave for Armenia. Meanwhile, at least 68 people were killed and about 350 injured in an explosion at a petrol station in the enclave’s main highway out of Stepanakert, its capital.