ABSTRACT
The dynamics of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan have changed significantly since Armenia’s surprise democratic transition in May 2018, which followed weeks of anti-government protests and the resignation of then-prime minister Serzh Sargsyan. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as seven surrounding districts. In 1988, Karabakh Armenians, who made up the majority of the republic and were increasingly subjected to discriminatory policies by Baku, demanded that Nagorno-Karabakh be transferred from Soviet Azerbaijan to Soviet Armenia. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is the commander-in-chief of the Armenian armed forces. The political leadership of the armed forces is represented by the Armenian Ministry of Defence, headed by Davit Tonoyan. The Artsakh Republic Defense Army is comprised of an army, air force and air defence. The commander-in-chief is Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan and the minister of defence is Lieutenant General Levon Mnatsakanyan.
