nagorno karabakh war

In September 2020, after 30 years, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out. At a time when the world is ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, and the presidential election is culminating in America, the Turkish military-backed Azerbaijan attacks the disputed territory inhabited by the Armenian population — the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh. Armenia announces a full-scale mobilization and sends thousands of troops to the region. The economically stronger Azerbaijan, armed with modern drones, advances rapidly from the southern and the northern fronts. Both sides are attacking each other with heavy artillery that affects civilian targets, too. People are hiding in the cellars and crypts of the churches. After two months of fighting, Armenia surrenders under Prime Minister Nikola Pashinyan, and Russian peacekeepers arrive in the territory. Armenia loses control of 75% of the region. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives on both sides, especially those of young soldiers.

Even a few months after the conflict, funerals are a daily occurrence at the Yerablur military cemetery on the outskirts of Yerevan.

This set was created at the turn of October and November 2020 and in January 2021, when I returned to capture the conflict's immediate consequences.