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The Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has announced that it will cease to exist following Azerbaijan’s military offensive and its takeover of Artsakh last week, which has led to an exodus of over half of its Armenian population.

Artsakh Republic President Samvel Shahramanyan on Thursday issued a decree ordering the dissolution of all state institutions by the end of the year.

"Dissolve all state institutions and organizations under the departmental subordination by January 1, 2024, and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases to exist," the decree said.

The document said Nagorno-Karabakh's population, including those who left for Armenia, should “familiarize themselves with the conditions of reintegration offered by Azerbaijan in order to make an independent and individual decision on the possibility of staying in (or returning to) Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Shahramanyan also said that an agreement reached with Azerbaijan last week would ensure the "free, voluntary and unhindered movement" for all those who wanted to leave.

He said the decision to dissolve the state was based on the “priority of ensuring the physical security and vital interests of the Artsakh people.”

By Thursday morning, 65,036 forcefully displaced persons had crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian government said.