Introduction
After a brief overview of independence following First World War, Azerbaijan and Armenia became Soviet republics from 1922 until 1991. The Soviet Union’s territorial policies created the background condition of the ethnic conflict between both countries.1 With the 1921 Treaty of Moscow, Nakhchivan, which consisted of an Azerbaijani majority, was declared an autonomous region within the Azerbaijan Soviet Republic. With this treaty, the Soviet Union and Türkiye assumed guarantor roles in the protection of the territorial integrity of Nakhchivan.2 The status of Nakhchivan as an autonomous region under the protection of Azerbaijan as well as guarantor countries was confirmed in the 1921 Treaty of Kars signed between Türkiye, Azerbaijan Armenia, and Georgia.3 Nakhchivan became an exclave after it was removed from Azerbaijan’s borders following the transfer of Zangezur to the Armenian Soviet Republic in 1921.4
The status of Nagorno-Karabakh was a debated issue within the Soviet leadership in the 1920s. Soviet authorities weighed in on the strong economic relationship between Karabakh and Azerbaijan and the benefits of having good diplomatic relations with Türkiye.5 They recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as an inseparable part of Azerbaijan. In 1923, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region was created as part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.6 The Nagorno-Karabakh region (which consisted of a Karabakh Armenian majority) was created inside Azerbaijan in 1923. Even though an Armenian party elite was attributed the right to administer the region, they were not able to practice real autonomy.7
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