The countries of the Caucasus region, Azerbaijan and Armenia, have been involved in the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1988. The two countries were incorporated into the Soviet Union, and Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan's PSR. The policy of glasnost implemented by the leader of the USSR, Gorbachev, in the late 1980s, allowed for the rise of political movements that requested to return of regions of Karabakh and Nahtwan to the Armenian PSR. In 1991, Armenian militants took control of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Republic of Artsakh, supported by Armenia, was established.
The international community recognizes the territory as part of Azerbaijan. At the end of September 2020, hostilities on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia around the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory had resumed.
On October 9, 2020 an article named What Negotiations Over Nagorno-Karabakh Could Look Like was published on Foreign Policy. The author stated that “years of diplomatic efforts have failed, but the two sides will need to talk to prevent a regionwide war.” The author proposes that Russia could have a role in being a mediator in this conflict, given its position as a major power in the region, although notes that currently Russia is not being engaging. Russia has been called the most plausible peace broker for the conflict, while it can be said that previous Russian efforts have done little to change the status quo and end the conflict.…