Azerbaijan said it wanted ethnic Armenians to remain in Nagorno-Karabakh after it took full control of the region.

"We call on Armenian residents not to leave their homes and become part of Azerbaijan's multi-ethnic society," Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministery said after around half of the region's population fled to Armenia since Baku announced its operation on September 19.

The Ministry's statement came in response to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's remarks on Thursday where he accused Baku of engaging in "ethnic cleansing" after 70,500 people made their way to Armenia.

"Nikol Pashinyan knows perfectly well that Armenian residents are leaving Karabakh on their own volition," the Foreign Ministry asserted.

"This is their personal decision which has nothing to do with forced migration," Baku said in response.

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Mass migration or "ethnic cleansing"?

Since September 24, around 70,500 people moved to Armenia after Baku reclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh from its unrecognized regional government, according to Pashinyan's Spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan.

"As of September 28, 14:00 [10:00 GMT], 70,500 forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh have entered Armenia. The registration of 50,866 people has been completed," Baghdasaryan said in a briefing.

Yerevan provided temporary housing for around 13,922 displaced people, according to Armenia's Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan.

Azerbaijan says it has agreed to allow combatants to lay down their arms and withdraw to Armenia. However, Baku has also reserved the right to detain and prosecute those suspected of committing what it called "war crimes", dating back to previous conflicts between the Armenians and Azerbaijan.

On Wednesday, Azerbaijani border guards arrested Ruben Vardanyan, a billionaire who headed the region's government from November 2022 until February this year, for financing "terrorism".

The United Nations human rights office has urged Baku to afford Vardanyan and other detainees "full respect and protection," while Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of making "illegal arrests".

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The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ceases to exist

The president of the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), Samvel Shahramanyan, signed earlier on Thursday a decree that dictates the termination of the existence of the republic he heads, marking a huge blow to ethnic Armenians in general and Pashinyan's government in specific.

"Based on the priority of ensuring the physical security and vital interests of the people of Karabakh, taking into account the agreement reached through the mediation of the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent with representatives of Azerbaijan that free, voluntary, and unimpeded passage of residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, including military personnel who have laid down their arms, with their property is ensured on their vehicles along the Lachin corridor ... a decision was made: to dissolve all state institutions and organizations under their departmental subordination until January 1, 2024," the decree read.

The decree added that subsequently, "the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ceases to exist."

According to reports, the decree is set to take effect immediately after publication.

Read more: Nagorno-Karabakh to no longer exist as institutions set to dissolve