Following the revoking of Nagorno-Karabakh's autonomous status, a referendum was held on 10 December 1991 in the region; it was boycotted by the Azerbaijani population which then constituted around 22.8%: 99.8% voted in favor.

[37][36] The war ended with a ceasefire in 1994, with the Republic of Artsakh controlling most of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, as well as the surrounding districts of Agdam, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Kalbajar, Qubadli, Lachin and Zangilan of Azerbaijan.

[39] Long-standing international mediation attempts to create a peace process were initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group in 1994, with the interrupted Madrid Principles being the most recent iteration.

In August 2019, in an unprecedented declaration in favour of unification, the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, visited Nagorno-Karabakh, stating, "Artsakh is Armenia, full stop".

[43] On 27 September the Azerbaijani MoD stated it had taken Qaraxanbəyli, Qərvənd, Kənd Horadiz and Yuxarı Əbdürrəhmanlı in Fuzuli, Böyük Mərcanlı and Nüzgər in Jabrayil.

[44][45] Next day, the Armenian MoD stated that the Azerbaijani forces had launched a new major offensive operation in the Aras Valley.

[63][64] Hostilities were formally halted at 12:00 (08:00 GMT), to allow an exchange of prisoners and the recovery of the dead, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

[64][65] But violations of the ceasefire were persistent, leading to the ICRC halting attempts to recover the dead and exchange wounded and prisoners,[66] as well as prompting fears of a humanitarian crisis.

[76] On 18 October, the Azerbaijani MoD claimed to have downed an Armenian Su-25 warplane, which it stated had been attacking towards Jabrayil; Armenia issued a denial.

[83] Soon after, the Azerbaijani MoD formally released footage showing Zəngilan,[84] and "BBC Russian Service" confirmed Azerbaijan's statements.

[28] In turn, the Armenian MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces were retreating along the Aras River;[85] Azerbaijan issued a denial.

[87] The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of Mincivan town and villages of Gecəgözlü, Aşağı Seyidəhmədli, and Zərgər in Fuzuli, Bələnd, Papı, Tulus, Hacılı, and Tinli in Jabrayil, and Xurama, Xumarlı, Sarıl, Babaylı, Üçüncü Ağalı, Hacallı, Qıraq Müşlan, Üdgün, Turabad, İçəri Müşlan, Məlikli, Cahangirbəyli, and Baharlı in Zangilan districts.

[90] In addition, he stated that Azerbaijani forces had claimed Kolluqışlaq, Malatkeşin, Kənd Zəngilan, Genlik, Vəliqulubəyli, Qaradərə, Çöpədərə, Tatar, Tiri, Əmirxanlı, Qarqulu, Bartaz, Dəlləkli, and Ağbənd in Zangilan District, releasing confirmary footage.

[97] On 25 October, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage from Zangilan and Jabrayil districts, in the very southwest of the theater of operations, near the Aras River and the Iranian border.

[98] The following day, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated that the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of Qovşudlu, Sofulu, Dağ Maşanlı, Kürdlər, Hovuslu, and Çələbilər in Jabrayil District, Birinci Alıbəyli, İkinci Alıbəyli, Rəbənd, and Yenikənd in Zangilan District,[99] along the Hakari Valley.