What Remains Unresolved?
By late 2026, several central questions remained.
Can displaced Armenians safely return?
International legal obligations and the November 2023 ICJ order recognize important protections for those wishing to return.
However, meaningful return depends on security, nondiscrimination, property rights, and practical arrangements.
A declaration that return is permitted is not the same as a credible environment in which families can safely rebuild their lives.
What will happen to abandoned homes and property?
Thousands of families have claims involving houses, land, businesses, and personal possessions.
The protection of records, access to legal remedies, restitution, and compensation remain essential.
Will Armenian cultural heritage be preserved?
Independent monitoring has documented damage and destruction.
Long-term protection requires sustained observation, conservation, access, and accountability.
What will happen to detainees?
The detention and prosecution of former Nagorno-Karabakh officials remain significant human rights and diplomatic concerns.
Fair-trial guarantees, detention conditions, family contact, and appropriate judicial review are essential.
How will refugees rebuild their lives?
Housing, employment, education, healthcare, and citizenship remain practical priorities.
Successful integration will require sustained assistance rather than short-term emergency relief alone.
Can Armenia and Azerbaijan establish lasting peace?
A durable peace must address interstate sovereignty and security, but lasting reconciliation also depends on the treatment of affected populations.
Ignoring displacement and historical grievances may leave serious sources of resentment unresolved.