On 20 September 2023, at 13:00 Azerbaijan time, a ceasefire ending Azerbaijan’s offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh against the forces of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh is reached through the mediation of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence, Armenian armed formations and illegal groups in the region lay down their arms, leave combat positions and fully disarm; ammunition and heavy equipment are handed over, with the process coordinated with Russian peacekeepers.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia had not drafted the agreement but supported the ceasefire. Talks on reintegration followed in Yevlakh on 21 September.

In the following days Azerbaijan seized large quantities of weapons; Artsakh later announced self-dissolution.

For the South Caucasus conflict, 20 September 2023 marks the Russia-mediated armistice.

The terms are confirmed by Azerbaijan’s MFA and Ministry of Defence.

The Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire of 20 September 2023 remains the Artsakh surrender milestone.

Image: Caucasus; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire. Treaty text: Azerbaijan MFA — 20 September 2023 briefing.