Moscow Imposes Direct Rule on Nagorno-Karabakh
WarEcho Team news
Soviet authorities impose special administration on Nagorno-Karabakh, suspending local government amid escalating crisis
The USSR Supreme Soviet Presidium imposed direct rule from Moscow on Nagorno-Karabakh, suspending the regional soviet and appointing a special administration committee led by Arkady Volsky.
The Decision
Moscow’s intervention aimed to:
- Restore order amid escalating violence
- Bypass conflicting Armenian and Azerbaijani claims
- Implement economic and social reforms
- Prevent further ethnic clashes
Special Administration
Leadership: Arkady Volsky, experienced industrial manager Powers:
- Direct control over security forces
- Economic management
- Authority over local administration
- Mediation between communities
Local Reactions
Armenians:
- Initial skepticism
- Demanded guarantees for safety and rights
- Continued push for unification
Azerbaijanis:
- Opposed any special status for Karabakh
- Feared precedent for separation
- Insisted on territorial integrity
Limited Success
The special administration:
- Temporarily reduced violence
- Failed to address fundamental grievances
- Could not bridge Armenian-Azerbaijani divide
- Demonstrated Moscow’s weakening authority
Significance
Direct rule marked:
- Soviet inability to manage ethnic conflicts
- Failure of normal governance structures
- Precedent for emergency interventions
- Temporary measure that solved little
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