Karabakh refugees cross to Armenia as Azerbaijan takes control

Ethnic Armenian refugees cross border from Nagorno-Karabakh to Kornidzor as Azerbaijan offensive ends three-decade-old conflict. Armenian PM Pashinyan blames ally Russia for insufficient protection, seeks new alliances. US expresses deep concern for ethnic Armenians, while Azerbaijan seeks to reintegrate them as equal citizens.

Ethnic Armenian refugees began to leave Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday for the first time since Azerbaijan launched an offensive designed to seize control of the breakaway territory and perhaps end a three-decade-old conflict.

This week's lightning operation could mark a historic geopolitical shift, with Azerbaijan victorious over the separatists and Armenia now publicly distancing itself from its traditional ally Russia.

"Yesterday, we had to put down our rifles. So we left," a man in his thirties from the village of Mets Shen told AFP as a first group of a few dozen people crossed the border and registered with Armenian officials in Kornidzor.

Most of the other refugees who crossed were women and children, including some from nearby Eghtsahogh, who had taken shelter around a Russian peacekeeping base after their village allegedly came under Azerbaijani shelling.

Separatist leaders have said they are negotiating the fate of some 1,20,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh in talks with Azerbaijani officials mediated by Russian peacekeepers. Many have seen shortages of food, water and power during a nine-month blockade.

The Armenian Health Ministry said 23 ambulances were carrying seriously wounded citizens of Nagorno-Karabakh to the border, accompanied by medics and Red Cross workers. Crowds of angry relatives gathered on the Armenian side awaiting news.

As drama unfolded on the border, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan — himself a target of protests over Karabakh's defeat — sought to deflect the blame onto long-standing ally Russia, signalling a breakdown in the countries' security pact.