Nagorno Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh

The ruins of Aghdam, city at the borderline between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan has been totally destroyed during the armed conflict and afterwards. It is now a ghost-city, who once had it's own airport and a population of 160.000. Being on the borderline, there are still fights going on in this area which is considered a buffer zone between the two countries. The place is also known to be dangerous for it's unexploted mines. There is no official report of mines left unexploded, but it is certain that Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the former Soviet Union territories with the greatest area of minefields. Aghdam, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.

Nagorno-Karabakh

An Armenian soldier is on watch in his post at the security point - 300 m from the Azeri security point - in the Martakert military base situated on the Northeast borderline with Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.

Nagorno-Karabakh

Soldier Maxim (age 20 - C) and his comrades patrol the border area with Azerbaijan - 300 m from the Azeri security point - in the Martakert military base situated on the Northeast borderline with Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.

Nagorno-Karabakh

The commander of the Martakert military base (C) inspects the security check points on the Northeast borderline with Azerbaijan - 300 m from the Azeri security point. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.

Nagorno-Karabakh

The commander of the Martakert military base inspects the security check points on the Northeast borderline with Azerbaijan - 300 m from the Azeri security point. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.

Nagorno-Karabakh

A soldier is inspected by the commander of the Martakert military base in one of the security check points on the Northeast frontier with Azerbaijan - 300 m from the Azeri security point. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.

Nagorno-Karabakh

Two soldiers are on watch in their post at the security point - 300 m from the Azeri security point - in the Martakert military base situated on the Northeast borderline with Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.

Nagorno-Karabakh

Soldier Maxim (age 20) is on watch in his post at the security point - 300 m from the Azeri security point - in the Martakert military base situated on the Northeast borderline with Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.

Nagorno-Karabakh

Two soldiers wait for the inspection of their commander in their room in the Martakert military base situated on the Northeast borderline with Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.

Nagorno-Karabakh

Vladimir (age 19 - L), Roman (age 20 - C) and Aram (age 22 - R) wait for the inspection of their commander in their room in the Martakert military base situated on the Northeast borderline with Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was founded on May 9, 1992. The army is currently composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and its primary role is the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Violations of the cease fire along the frontier are frequent and often result in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most dangerous spots on the borderline with Azerbaijan is Martakert. In Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia the military service is compulsory for two years for the citizens at age of 18-27. Many of the Armenian soldiers are deployed in military units close to the border with Azerbaijan. Armenia officially declared itself as a guarantee of security of Nagorno Karabakh, but it doesn’t officially recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This makes military service a sensitive issue for both Karabakh's ethnic and Armenian population. Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, 20 September 2008.