Moscow Declares State of Emergency in Nagorno-Karabakh and Surrounding Areas
Soviet authorities impose direct rule as ethnic clashes spread beyond the disputed region
MOSCOW - The Soviet government today declared a state of emergency in Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent districts of Armenia and Azerbaijan, imposing military rule over the troubled region after weeks of escalating violence.
The decree, signed by President Mikhail Gorbachev, grants extraordinary powers to military commandant Lieutenant General Arkady Volkov, including authority to ban demonstrations, impose curfews, and detain individuals without charge for up to 30 days.
“Extremist forces on both sides have pushed the situation to the brink of civil war,” Gorbachev told an emergency session of the Politburo. “We must restore order before more blood is shed.”
The decision comes after a week of intense clashes that left at least 20 dead and hundreds injured. The violence has spread beyond Nagorno-Karabakh to towns along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, with reports of villages being attacked and residents forced to flee.
In Stepanakert, Armenian protesters denounced the emergency measures as an attempt to suppress their national movement. “They send tanks instead of addressing our legitimate demands,” said protest leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan. “This will only strengthen our resolve.”
Azerbaijani officials welcomed the intervention but demanded stronger action against Armenian “separatists.” “Every day of delay allows illegal armed formations to grow stronger,” warned Azerbaijan Interior Minister Mahmud Mammadov.
The emergency decree suspends local government bodies and places all administrative functions under military control. Troops have begun enforcing a strict curfew, with violators facing immediate arrest.
International human rights organizations express concern about the sweeping powers granted to military authorities. “Emergency rule without clear limits or oversight creates conditions for serious abuses,” noted Helsinki Watch representative Jeri Laber.
As armored vehicles patrol the streets of Stepanakert and military checkpoints appear on roads throughout the region, residents brace for an extended period of military rule. The Soviet Union’s first major ethnic conflict shows no signs of resolution, with both sides hardening their positions despite Moscow’s show of force.