Armenian leader sets 2031 deadline

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian has set a goal of signing and ratifying a peace treaty with Azerbaijan by 2031, aiming to normalize relations after decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. This region, historically inhabited mostly by Armenians, was taken over by Azerbaijan in 2023.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian population displaced

The 2023 recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan led to the displacement of about 100,000 Armenians who had lived there for centuries. Pachinian emphasized that the peace treaty with Azerbaijan is one of the most important issues for his government and for him personally.

Peace agreement signed in 2025 but not yet ratified

A peace agreement was signed in August 2025 during a White House summit hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the treaty has not been officially signed or ratified yet. Armenia requires constitutional amendments before the signing, which it says are needed to address concerns over territorial claims.

Armenia disputes interpretation of treaty language

Armenia rejects the interpretation that the treaty’s reference to an independence declaration for Nagorno-Karabakh implies a territorial claim. The draft treaty commits both countries to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, renounce territorial claims, and establish diplomatic relations.

Armenian heritage at risk in Nagorno-Karabakh

Following Azerbaijan’s 2023 offensive, Nagorno-Karabakh was quietly integrated into Azerbaijan, ending the Armenian presence that had lasted for a millennium. The displacement of 120,000 Armenians has raised concerns about their return, as Armenian Christian heritage in the region faces increasing threats.

Destruction of religious sites documented

By the end of April 2026, satellite images showed the Saint Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, had been destroyed. Investigative sources and satellite reports have documented the disappearance of many Armenian religious buildings and cemeteries, raising fears of a gradual erasure of Armenian Christian culture and identity.

Armenia’s geopolitical isolation

Armenia has been isolated and without allies, facing Azerbaijan supported by Turkey, while Russia has been preoccupied with the war in Ukraine. A lasting resolution of the dispute could reopen transport routes through the strategically important region.