The mountainous enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians, represents one of the most contested regions in the post-Soviet world. While its status remains unresolved to this day, Nagorno-Karabakh’s stamps have emerged as symbols of regional identity, resistance, and political aspiration—drawing both controversy and interest from philatelists worldwide.
Background: From Autonomy to Unrecognized Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh was established as an Autonomous Region within the Azerbaijan SSR in 1923 by Soviet authorities. The region retained this status through much of the Soviet period, despite strong ethnic and cultural ties to Armenia. Tensions over the region’s future escalated during the late 1980s amid the weakening of central Soviet control.
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In 1988, calls intensified for unification with Armenia.
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By 1989, in response to mounting unrest, direct rule from Moscow was imposed.
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On 2 September 1991, the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Soviet declared independence from Azerbaijan.
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A referendum on 10 December 1991—boycotted by the local Azerbaijani population—confirmed this declaration with overwhelming support among Armenian residents.
This marked the birth of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (now often referred to as Artsakh), although it has never been recognized internationally, not even by Armenia officially.
War and Ceasefire
The declaration of independence led to full-scale war between Nagorno-Karabakh, backed by Armenia, and Azerbaijan. By 1993, Armenian forces controlled not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also adjacent Azerbaijani territories, forming a land bridge to Armenia. A ceasefire brokered by Russia was signed on 18 February 1994, halting active hostilities but leaving the political status in limbo.
Postal History of Nagorno-Karabakh
First Stamp Issues (1993)
In the midst of the conflict, Nagorno-Karabakh began issuing its own postage stamps in 1993. These stamps were used within the territories under its control and were not recognized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). As such, they hold no international postal validity, but they do carry symbolic and political weight.
Legitimacy and Controversy
Because Nagorno-Karabakh is not a UPU member, its stamps are classified as illegal for international mail and generally fall into the category of “cinderella stamps”. Still, they have attracted a loyal following among collectors interested in:
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Unrecognized states and disputed territories
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Conflict philately
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Post-Soviet regional issues
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Symbolic state-building through postal identity
List of Issued Postage Stamps:
1993 Inscr “REPUBLIC OF MOUNTAINOUS KARABAKH”.
1995 Nos. 1 and 3 surch in Armenian script as T 2/2b.
1996 5th Anniv of Independence.
1997 Festivals.
1998 10th Anniv of Karabakh Movement.
1998 5th Anniv of Liberation of Shushi.