Places That Don't Exist: Nagorno Karabakh 3 of 4

There are almost 200 official countries in the world. But there are dozens more breakaway states which are determined to be separate and independent.
The breakaway states have their own rulers, parliaments or warlords, and are home to millions of people, but they're not officially recognised as proper countries by the rest of the world.
Several have their own armies and police forces, and issue passports and even postage stamps which the rest of the world ignores. All of the breakaway states have declared independence after violent struggles with a neighbouring state.
Some now survive peacefully, but others are a magnet for terrorists and weapons smuggling, and have armies ready for a fight. Several could be at the centre of future wars which threaten their regions and the wider world.
In a world of easy adventure tourism, Simon visits breakaway states & unrecognized nations which don't usually feature on the tourist trail: Somaliland, Transniestria, South Ossetia, Taiwan, Abkhazia, Ajaria and Nagorno-Karabkh
Welcome to Places That Don't Exist...

Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Armenia became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but a mountainous area of Azerbaijan called Nagorno-Karabkh (NK) triggered war. Historically it was mainly Armenian Christian, and
when it wanted its own independence, Armenian troops helped the Karabkh army push Azeris out. Azerbaijan is still officially at war over NK, and Simon's journey starts in Azerbaijan on the frontline overlooking NK; he sprints across open ground to avoid sniper fire.
Thousands of people fled during the war. Simon finds Azeri children and the elderly still living in rusty train carriages in a siding. Everywhere Simon goes there are reminders of the war. Everyone mentions it, including the country's top pop star -- a crack-shot with an AK-47.
Simon heads to NK, but the border with Azerbaijan is closed. A massive detour takes him across the border into Georgia, over stunning snowy mountains into Armenia, then south over icy mountain passes into NK. Inside the breakaway state he finds bombed-out villages and abandoned buildings, and Christians who view Muslims with suspicion and fear. In a village locals walk through a minefield in front of him.
Despite mines and war, Simon's guide tells him NK would have the world's highest longevity rate if recognized as a state. A graveyard contains endless people aged more than 100, and there is a suggestion of a live 120-year-old. Simon travels to the NK frontline trenches with Azerbaijan. Very few people go from one side to the other; Simon reflects on the stalemate, and the unlikely prospect of peace.
The programme finishes at a wedding where the electricity has died. Luckily, bride and groom emerge into the light to a rapturous reception.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Simon
• Reeve
• Places
• That
• Don't
• Exist
• Nagorno
• Karabakh
• Azerbaijan
• Armenia
• travel
• log
• adventure
• events

[ArmoGeorgian]

Now you know why Armenians won the war.

A few mines here and there wont deter them from being independant, they would rather die than bend to the enemy demands

[ArmoGeorgian]

I love the Karbaghtzi Armenian accent

[ArmoGeorgian]

@morbie5

I was in Dubai only 4 months ago, an Arab friend of mine confirmed that the Aliyev family has over 600M $US in properties in UAE, including a number of palaces.

[ArmoGeorgian]

Yes the Moseque still stands, but ask azerbajian what has happened to 10,000 stone crosses in Nxachivan or the 250 Churches that also existed in Naxachivan for 1800 years.

[cheezus]

de-miner guy lookin like McNulty

[nuneh]

it's important to understand when and how azerbaijan was even established....

1918. right after turkey conducted the armenian genocide.

armenia? 2492 BC

armenians have been resisting turkification for thousands of years. this conflict did not just start.

[christiansoldier11]

My Micronation officialy Recognizes the Nagoro-Karabakh Republic as an Independant Entity that the bigwigs in the White house, parliment and tianaman square all consider a part of the oilarchy Azerbaijan. the armenians have their own share of conflict with the turks.

[steezyunicorns]

i love his videos they're fun to watch when u dont know crap about these countries

[scorpioninpink]

@MrEmilien007 actually it's from the persian aka iranian...

[morbie5]

Azerbaijan has so much oil money but their army looks rag-tag. All that oil money must be going right to the Aliyev family offshore bank accounts in Switzerland or Dubai.