Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast


Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast is the Resolution No. 279-XII passed by the National Assembly of Azerbaijan and signed into law by the President of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutalibov on November 26, 1991. The law had been prompted by a vote of National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh in favor of uniting itself with Armenia on 20 February 1988. The vote was followed by a referendum in 1988 which was boycotted by the Azerbaijani population of the Oblast; most voted in favor of independence. While these votes and elections had mainly been conducted in a relatively peaceful manner, in the following months, as the Soviet Union disintegrated, it gradually grew into an increasingly violent conflict between ethnic Armenians and ethnic Azerbaijanis. Both sides claimed that ethnic cleansing was being carried out. The declaration of secession from Azerbaijan was the final result of a territorial conflict regarding the land.

History

The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was created as an autonomous oblast by carving out the mountainous districts of Azerbaijan which constituted historic Karabakh within Azerbaijan SSR from July 7, 1923. Its borders were drawn to include as many Armenian-populated villages and excluded as many Azerbaijani villages as possible. NKAO included territories of former Javanshir, Shusha, Jabrayil uyezds and a part of Qubadli which was part of Zangezur Uyezd. The Russian term Nagorno was affixed to the Turco-Persian name Karabagh and the name of the oblast was officially changed to Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1937. In 1988, Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh demanded transfer of NKAO to Armenian SSR. Following the escalation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan abolished Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast on November 26, 1991 rearranging the administrative division and theoretically bringing the territory under direct control of Azerbaijan.

Provisions

The Resolution No. 279-XII discussed in the Azerbaijani Parliament stated that whereas the existence Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast created in 1923 brought tensions between Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples, ran counter to national interests of Azerbaijan, created base and conditions for Armenian nationalists to destroy all ethnic, historical, political, economic and moral values and riches of Azerbaijan, the parliament thus considered creation of the oblast to be illegitimate. The text questioned why an enclave with an Armenian majority was created on Azerbaijani territory while no cultural autonomy was given to half a million Azerbaijanis in Armenia. The text claimed that were being deported en masse. The resolution condemned acts of Armenian militants in Karabakh and the policies of the Armenian Republic conducted in violation of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Parliament called for the protection of the sovereignty of Azerbaijan and for full integration of the mountainous part with the rest of Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
In compliance with Article 68, Section 3, Item 2 of Clause 104 of Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic and Article 4 of Constitution Act about State Sovereignty of Azerbaijan Republic, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic was abolished. The Decree on Establishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Oblast of Azerbaijan Central Executive Committee date July 7, 1923 and the Law on Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of Azerbaijan SSR dated June 16, 1981 were considered stale.
The cities of Stepanakert, Mardakert, Martuni were renamed to their respective Azeri names. Stepanakert was named back to Khankendi, Mardakert to Aghdara, Mardakert District to Aghdara District, Martuni to Khojavend, Martuni District to Khojavend District. Askeran District and Hadrut District were abolished. Khojali District was established with the administrative center in Khojaly and the abolished Askeran District was incorporated into it. The abolished Hadrut District was incorporated into Khojavend District.