 Armenians leave Azerbaijani Karabakh voluntarily. No Azerbaijani official has given instructions to remove Armenians from Karabakh. However, many residents of the region feel they have no choice. The Washington Post reported on this. For many years, Armenia hoped that close relations with Russia would play the role of a buffer against Azerbaijan and guarantee the de facto independence of the Karabakh Armenians. The information says, the Armenians of Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but beyond Baku's control since the breakup of the Soviet Union, were forced to declare a ceasefire on September 20th after a lightning 24-hour military operation by the much larger Azerbaijani military. Azerbaijan says it will guarantee their rights and integrate the region, but the leadership of the Armenians in Karabakh told that they would leave. Azerbaijan has repeatedly denied any intention to harm them. Azerbaijan, which is mainly Muslim, has said the Armenians who are Christian can leave if they want. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev promised to guarantee the rights and security of Armenians living in the region.