The historical flag of Artsakh, formerly Nagorno-Karabakh from 1991-2017, is a horizontal tricolour of red (upper stripe), blue, and orange (literally "peachy") with an ornamental hoistward pointing arrow at the fly side of the flag.
Symbolism[]
Flag of Armenia
The flag is based on the flag of Armenia and reflects the ties between Armenia and the region.
The westwards pointing arrow signifies Artsakh's separation from Armenia proper, and its hopes for union with the motherland. The design also recalls that of the world famous Armenia rugs.[2]
History[]
Jul 1988 – Jan 1989
Artsakh was an enclave populated by Armenians surrounded by territory populated by Azerbaijanis. The first government of Karabakh was formed in July 1918. The territory was disputed between Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities, until in July of 1923, its status was defined as that of an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. The region had no specific flag, the flags of Azerbaijan and the Soviet Union were flown.
In 1988 the Supreme Soviet of the autonomous oblast voted to reunite with Armenia, which was rejected by the central Soviet authorities. From 1988-1989, the region used a flag of its own: a red banner with the oblast emblem. From 1989-1991, the region was under direct Soviet administration from Moscow. On January 6, 1992, the local authorities proclaimed independence as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. It was not recognised neither by Azerbaijan, nor by Armenia or any other country.
The republic was dissolved on January 1, 2024, after an Azerbaijani offensive led to the disarmament of the government, and a decree signed by the president on September 28, 2023.