Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) to cease to exist from January  1, 2024  

ArmInfo.The president of Armenia's self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Samvel  Shahramanyan, has signed a decree to dissolve all state institutions from January 1, 2024, Karabakh Armenian authorities said on Thursday.

The self-declared republic will cease to exist from that day, the  decree said.

President Samvel Shahramanyan's decree called for all institutions  and organizations of the Republic of Artsakh - which is not  recognized internationally - to dissolve by the start of next year.

"The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases its existence,"  read the decree, which was shared on Facebook by the Artsakh  government.

Shahramanyan said the decision had been made "due to the current  difficult military-political situation."

The decree called on Azerbaijan to observe the "free, unconstrained,  and unhindered passing of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh,  including the militants who laid down their weapons, with their  property and transportation means through Lachin corridor."

The Armenian population of the Karabakh region should consider the  conditions of reintegration proposed by Azerbaijan and independently  decide on the possibility of staying.

"To dissolve all state institutions and organizations under their  subordination before January 1, 2024, the Republic of  Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases to exist," it said, giving the name  of the self-styled region, which had existed in name only.

"After the entry into force of this decree, the population of  Nagorno-Karabakh, including those located outside the republic,  should consider the conditions of reintegration presented by the  Republic of Azerbaijan in order to make an independent and individual  decision on the possibility of staying (returning) to  Nagorno-Karabakh in the future," the decree said.