More than 80% of Nagorno-Karabakh's population flees as future uncertain for those who remain
Armenian officials say more than 80% of Nagorno-Karabakh's original population have fled the ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan for neighboring Armenia YEREVAN, Armenia -- The exodus of more than 80% of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh raises questions about Azerbaijan's plans for the ethnic Armenian enclave following its lightning offensive last week to reclaim the breakaway region. The Armenian government said Friday evening that more than 97,700 people, from a population of around 120,000, had fled to Armenia since Azerbaijan attacked and ordered the region's militants to disarm. The enclave's separatist government said it would dissolve itself by the end of the year after a three-decade bid for independence. Some people lined up for days to escape Nagorno-Karabakh because the only route to Armenia — a winding mountain road — became jammed with slow-moving vehicles. Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan said some people, including the elderly, had died...