One Year Later: The Mass Exodus and Genocide of Ethnic Armenians from Their Indigenous Homeland of Nagorno-Karabakh

One year after the mass exodus in Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, the pain and shock continue to be felt deeply among the people of Artsakh, Armenia, and the Armenian diaspora. The haunting memories of what many have described as another genocide are still fresh. As Armenians continue to fight for global recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, they now face the devastation of recent ethnic cleansing and mass displacement in their homeland.

On September 24, 2023, fears of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and persecution surged across Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenians began fleeing the region through the Lachin Corridor, seeking safety from Azerbaijani crimes in Armenia. By the end of the day, 1,050 refugees had crossed into Armenia through the Kornidzor border post in Armenia’s Syunik Province. As word of the safe passage spread, a mass exodus quickly followed.

By the evening of September 25, the Armenian government reported that 6,500 refugees had arrived from Nagorno-Karabakh. Many of them had been stranded for months due to the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan, which had severely limited their access to fuel and essential supplies. A much-needed fuel shipment finally arrived, allowing residents to refuel their vehicles for the journey to Armenia. Petrol stations in Stepanakert distributed fuel free of charge to those evacuating.

However, this moment of relief was soon overshadowed by a devastating explosion. At a fuel station in Berkadzor, an underground 50-ton fuel tank erupted, killing 238 people and injuring hundreds more. Most of the victims were waiting in line to obtain fuel for their vehicles. The injured, many of whom suffered severe burns, were treated in various medical facilities across the region, including the Republican Medical Center of Artsakh, and hospitals run by Russian peacekeepers. 

As the evacuation continued, the number of refugees fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh rapidly increased. By September 26, the Armenian government reported that 28,000 people had fled the region, amounting to a quarter of Nagorno-Karabakh's population. One day later, the number had surged to 50,000, including 17,000 children.

Among the chaotic events of September 27, Ruben Vardanyan, a prominent businessman and former high-level official in the Artsakh government, was detained by Azerbaijani forces as he attempted to cross into Armenia. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani soldiers reportedly entered the village of Vaghuhas, firing shots into the air and demanding that residents leave immediately.

By September 28, more than half of Nagorno-Karabakh's population had fled, with over 65,000 refugees arriving in Armenia. The journey from Stepanakert to Armenia, typically a two-hour drive, took up to 30 hours for many evacuees. Exhausted families spent days in their cars, inching forward in a long queue of vehicles, often moving only a few hundred meters per day.

As the refugee numbers climbed, the strain on those fleeing grew more severe. By September 29, the number of refugees had reached 97,700, and Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesian reported that some refugees had died during the journey due to exhaustion, malnutrition, lack of medicine, and the grueling travel time, which in some cases stretched to 40 hours.

By the end of September, over 100,000 people had fled Nagorno-Karabakh. On October 2, the last bus carrying refugees with serious illnesses or mobility issues entered Armenia. The Armenian government confirmed that, by October 3, 100,617 of Nagorno-Karabakh’s estimated 120,000 population had been displaced. The UN mission, which visited the region on October 1, estimated that only 50 to 1,000 Armenians remained in the entire indigenous Armenian Karabakh region.

Despite the forced mass evacuation, a small number of people chose to remain in their homes. On October 19, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that some residents either stayed by choice or were unable to leave on their own. The ICRC provided food, medical care, and transportation to those left behind, helping them cope with the dire conditions.

One year later, the scars of the Nagorno-Karabakh genocide remain deep. For the displaced, the journey to safety was filled with hardship, and the future remains uncertain. Many are still grappling with the trauma of witnessing violence, forced displacement, and loss.

As the international community watches, Armenians around the world continue to mourn and call for justice. They demand recognition not only of the 1915 Armenian Genocide but also of the more recent ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The pain and shock of these events will not soon fade, as the Armenian people face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives and preserving their identity during the ongoing invasion and Armenophobia.