Refugees from War-Torn Nagorno-Karabakh Arrive in Armenia as Protests Erupt over Russian Peacekeepers' Failure to Protect Armenian Population

The first refugees from the conflict-ridden region of Nagorno-Karabakh have arrived in Armenia, following a 10-month blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and a military offensive by the country. Thousands of people were evacuated and taken to a Russian peacekeepers' camp in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to local officials, a total of 377 people have arrived in Armenia from the region as of Sunday night.

Conflicting reports from Russia's Defense Ministry stated that 311 civilians, including 102 children, were transported by their peacekeepers, while Armenian authorities reported a higher number. The situation has sparked protests in Armenia, with demonstrators demanding the ousting of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and accusing the Russian peacekeepers of failing to protect the region's Armenian population.

The ceasefire agreement reached last week led to the surrender of weapons by separatist forces in Nagorno-Karabakh to the Azerbaijani army. Disarmed and demobilized Armenian troops will be allowed to leave the region and go to Armenia, according to Azerbaijan's Interior Ministry. The final status of Nagorno-Karabakh remains uncertain, and negotiations between the two sides are ongoing.