The Daily Beast: Every schoolboy in NKR knows that after graduation he will go to defend his state
In the decades since the war, the Armenian diaspora in the West has helped turn Nagorno Karabakh Republic into a surprising democracy, Anna Nemtsova writes for The Daily Beast.
At sunset flocks of swallows race through the pink sky over the central square of Stepanakert, a city once bombed and largely destroyed in Karabakh war. There is still occasional shooting around the frontier with Azerbaijan, but this capital is peaceful, the author writes.
Some 150,000 people live in Karabakh, but it has support from a much greater population of ethnic Armenians around the world. The tranquil scene in Stepanakert seems almost surreal, considering Karabakh’s war-torn history and its militarized present, according to Nemtsova.
Nagorno-Karabakh has preferred to remain a distant observer of any geopolitical turmoil, but the people there also realize that any political instability could awaken the not-so-frozen war with Azerbaijan. The locals do not want another destructive war, according to the author.
Stepanakert made elections transparent and honest. Besides, the state is so tiny that it seems everyone knows everyone, and local officials are just too exposed to cheat the voters. Arayik Harutyunyan, the prime minister of NKR, told The Daily Beast that Nagorno-Karabakh demonstrated that with transparent and democratic presidential elections it could beat corruption and organized crime successfully. This is what attracts some businesspersons to move and work here.
According to the article, democracy is not the only goal for Nagorno-Karabakh. Very soon, Harutyunyan promised, Artsakh would turn into a black caviar heaven, to demonstrate to Azerbaijan that they not only despise dictatorship, they can also grow rich.
As the journalist noticed, any conversation on the street or in private homes slowly drifts back to memories of war and to stories of today’s losses on the border. Every local schoolboy knows that right after graduation he will put on his uniform and go to defend his state from enemies.
Related:
The Irish Times: For people in Nagorno Karabakh, it is world’s best place
The Calvert Journal: Dark picture painted by news headlines covering Nagorno Karabakh is forgotten once one arrives
British Journal: Nagorno Karabakh populated with Armenians could become the new wonder of world
Newsfeed
Videos
Artur Vanetsyan: I think you'll see me more often at various events in future
