The Lachin border checkpoint Three years that redefined Azerbaijan’s sovereignty

The victorious path of Azerbaijan in restoring its territorial integrity and sovereignty is usually divided into two major milestones — the 2020 Patriotic War, during which the backbone of the occupation army was broken, and the anti-terror operation of September 19–20, 2023, which put an end to the existence of the so-called “grey zone” in Karabakh and after which the Azerbaijani flag was raised in Khankendi.

However, there was another event that can rightfully be described as a landmark step on Azerbaijan’s path to restoring its sovereignty. This refers, of course, to the establishment of the border checkpoint on the border with Armenia in the Lachin district — more precisely, on the Lachin road. This event took place on April 23, 2023, and today marks its third anniversary.

The significance of what happened that day is difficult to overestimate. After its defeat in the 44-day war, Armenia continued to finance the “grey zone” in the Karabakh region, while weapons were being delivered to the remnants of the separatist forces via the Lachin road. Numerous appeals from official Baku on this matter to the Russian peacekeeping contingent (RPC) deployed in the region did not produce any results.

Thus, the establishment of the border checkpoint (BCP) primarily meant the end of the period of unimpeded communication between Armenia and the separatist entity in Karabakh. Since the opening of the checkpoint, the movement of people and goods has been carried out under the state control of Azerbaijan. From that moment on, not a single bullet could enter the territory of Azerbaijan from Armenia.

Moreover, the establishment of the BCP dealt a significant psychological blow to the long-standing paradigm of thinking within Armenian society. Following the defeat in the 44-day war, Armenia harboured hopes that the Russian peacekeeping contingent (RPC) would ensure the continued existence of the remaining separatist structure in Karabakh. Many in Armenia believed that the “loss” of the districts adjacent to the so-called “grey zone” had been an acceptable price to pay for preserving the so-called “NKR” — the much-cited “status quo” — while the presence of peacekeepers was perceived as a guarantee of security. The establishment of the BCP in Lachin put an end to these illusions.

The creation of the Lachin BCP became a clear demonstration that Azerbaijan holds full authority over its internationally recognised territory. In doing so, Baku showed that neither external pressure nor the presence of foreign forces can limit the exercise of a state’s sovereign rights. Just days earlier, President Ilham Aliyev emphasised that no one could influence Azerbaijan’s will, and that the country would prove it again if necessary.

Indeed, the decision to establish the Lachin BCP was made in a complex geopolitical environment. At the time, various international actors were simultaneously exerting pressure on Baku, unwilling to accept the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. However, Azerbaijan acted primarily on the basis of its own national interests.

The establishment of the Lachin BCP sent a clear signal both to the country’s citizens and to the outside world: the issue of territorial integrity was entering a stage of final consolidation. The determination and political will of the country’s leadership, headed by President Ilham Aliyev, played a decisive role in this development.

It is therefore not surprising that Armenia’s traditional patrons reacted sharply to this step. Representatives of the United States under the Joe Biden administration, the European Union, and, in particular, France (whose Foreign Ministry spokesperson even condemned Azerbaijan) issued statements about a “rise in tensions” and risks to the negotiation process.

While one may express indignation at the bias and unfairness of such a reaction, it is also impossible not to note that the very sharpness of their response only underlined the significance of what had taken place.

At the same time, although the establishment of the BCP significantly reduced illegal arms transfers from Armenia into the “grey zone”, it was not immediately possible to fully prevent attempts at infiltration via difficult mountainous routes. Continued provocations and the mine threat ultimately led to the local anti-terror measures carried out in September 2023, as a result of which illegal armed formations capitulated, and Baku fully restored control over the entire Karabakh region.

In this context, the Lachin BCP played a key preparatory role. It restricted the capabilities of separatist structures, deprived them of their previous channels of communication and supply, and created conditions for the final restoration of the country’s sovereignty.

At the same time, it is important to emphasise once again that the establishment of the BCP did not worsen the humanitarian situation in Karabakh, just as the precise anti-terror operation of September 19 posed no threat whatsoever to the lives of the civilian population of Armenian origin in the region.

It is also important to note that from the very first days of its operation, the checkpoint became an example of organisation and a humane approach. Residents of Karabakh of Armenian origin who were not involved with illegal armed formations were able to cross it freely upon presenting the required documents. Later, when Karabakh Armenians chose not to live under the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan and voluntarily left the country, the Lachin BCP performed not only a border-control function but also a humanitarian one — Azerbaijani border guards assisted people in queues and helped them go through the necessary procedures.

In conclusion, it can be said that the Lachin BCP is not merely a border checkpoint; it can rightfully be regarded as a symbolic expression of Azerbaijani statehood.