THE separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh announced today that it will dissolve itself and the republic will cease to exist by the end of the year.

Armenian officials said that more than half of the population has already fled from the region.

This comes after Azerbaijan claimed full control of the region and demanded that Armenian troops lay down their weapons and that the government dissolve itself.

A decree accepting the demands was signed by the region’s separatist President Samvel Shakhramanyan. 

The document cited an agreement reached last week to end the fighting, under which Azerbaijan will allow the “free, voluntary and unhindered movement” of Nagorno-Karabakh residents and disarm troops in Armenia in exchange.

More than half of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, some 66,500 people, have reportedly already fled the region and the exodus is said to be continuing.

On Thursday, Azerbaijani authorities charged Ruben Vardanyan — the former head of Nagorno-Karabakh’s separatist government who was arrested a day earlier — with financing terrorism, creating illegal armed formations and illegally crossing a state border.

Following the latest offensive and a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russian peacekeepers, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh separatist authorities have begun talks on “reintegrating” the region back into Azerbaijan. 

But many local residents fear reprisals and have decided to flee the region for Armenia.