Republic of Artsakh, also referred to as the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, is an independent democratic state, established in 1991 in the process of disintegration of the Soviet Union. The Republic was proclaimed in compliance with then acting legislation and international norms. Sovereignty of the Republic has firm legal, historical and moral grounds.
History of Artsakh as an Armenian principality traces back to the 5th century B.C., when it was the 10th province of the Ancient Kingdom of Armenia. In the following centuries, as part of Armenia, Artsakh fell under the rule of various powers, but always remained Armenian playing an important role in the development of the Armenian statehood, culture and civilization in general.
Artsakh has become subject of international dispute in 1918, when Armenia restored its statehood, but began to face territorial claims by Azerbaijan, which had appeared for the first time on the political map as a country. Yet, the League of Nations