Thousands of Armenians try to flee Karabakh after ceasefire with Azerbaijan

Following the separatist forces’ agreement to a ceasefire that would result in their surrender to Azerbaijan, thousands of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh gathered at the airport where some Russian soldiers were stationed on Wednesday.

The 120,000 residents of the self-declared “Republic of Artsakh” were encouraged not to rush to the airport in the capital, which they refer to as Stepanakert, by separatists in charge of the region.

“We once again urge the population of Stepanakert not to succumb to panic and not to go to the airport on their own initiative in order to evacuate,” the separatists said.

Thousands of people, some with young children, were seen at the airport in pictures from Karabakh.

Leaders of the separatist movement have often charged Azerbaijan with seeking to racialize Karabakh. Such charges are rejected by Baku, which also declares that it would uphold the rights of the local ethnic Armenian civilians.

Christian Armenians assert a lengthy history of domination in the region that dates back several centuries before Christ.

The predominantly Muslim nation of Azerbaijan also ties its historical identity to the region. It charges the Armenians with expelling the local Azerbaijanis in the 1990s. It seeks complete authority over the area, which is acknowledged by the world community as being a part of Azerbaijan.

In accordance with the cease-fire agreement, representatives of the Armenians in Karabakh are scheduled to meet with Azerbaijani officials on Thursday.

According to Russia, its peacekeepers are doing their job.

Moscow reported that 1,049 youngsters were among the 1,261 persons seeking refuge at the peacekeepers’ base camp.

(With agency inputs)