What caused the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh originated from the region's status as an Armenian-majority autonomous province within the Azerbaijan S.S.R., established by the Soviet government in 1923.1

The primary causes of the conflict include:

• Territorial Disputes: In 1988, ethnic Armenians in the enclave began agitating for the transfer of the region to Armenian jurisdiction, a demand strongly opposed by both the Azerbaijan S.S.R. and the Soviet government.1
• Independence and Sovereignty: Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence in 1992. Azerbaijan rejected this move as illegal under international law, leading to cycles of war and failed diplomatic negotiations.231
• Ethnic Tensions: The conflict was exacerbated by deep-seated ethnic antagonisms, which manifested in violent protests, interethnic clashes, and anti-Armenian pogroms in Sumgait and Baku during the late 1980s and early 1990s.23

These tensions resulted in major military conflicts in 1988–94 and 2020, eventually leading to Azerbaijan taking control of the region in 2023.1