A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE FIRST AND SECOND NAGORNOKARABAKH WARS.

The Nagorno-Karabakh wars is one of the most protracted and complex disputes in the post-Soviet space, involving Armenia and Azerbaijan over the control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The first war broke out in the late 1980s and early 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian-majority area, had been under Azerbaijani control during Soviet regime. As tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis grew, the conflict escalated into a full-scale war from 1991 to 1994. The result was a devastating loss of life, mass displacement, and a de facto Armenian control over Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding Azerbaijani territories, although these gains were never internationally recognized. A fragile ceasefire was agreed upon in 1994, but the situation remained volatile with periodic skirmishes. The second war erupted in September 2020, with Azerbaijan launching a largescale offensive to reclaim Nagorno-Karabakh. The 2020 conflict was marked by heavy military engagement, with Azerbaijan receiving support from Turkey, while Russia played a mediating role. The war ended with a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia, shifting the region's geopolitical dynamics and strengthening Azerbaijan's position. Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high, and the conflict continues to shape relations in the South Caucasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]