Armenian Artsakh and Armenia through the eyes of photographer Robert Bachi
If you go to a country which is not recognized you must be ready for the absence of ‘roaming.’ Except this fact a country not recognized is the same as a recognized one, only that it won’t be invited to the Olympic Games. The men are in arms, commerce is a bit difficult and there are no tourists anywhere. But there are border-lines with non-recognized immigration officers, offices with unofficial stamps and governments with non-recognized ministers.
This Caucasian area populated mainly by Armenians seceded from Azerbaijan when the Soviet Union fell apart, although the states of the world do not recognize it. Economic crisis characterized the first years, then an open war broke out between Azerbaijan and the Armenian population of Mountain-Karabakh. In Azerbaijan they claim that Armenia - illegally - occupied the area populated by 140 000 people. 35 000 people have died so far in the war about the split up. The two neighbouring countries are officially engaged in fight as Armenia still vindicates the territory of Mountain-Karabakh, which is populated mostly by Armenians.