Abstract
This article explores the contested identity of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) through historical and political analysis. Prompted by the Munich Security Conference (February 17, 2024), where Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev asserted that “Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan,” the study interrogates this claim against Armenian and Azerbaijani narratives. Using case study methodology, it examines historical timelines, cultural continuity, and linguistic evidence to highlight how history is mobilized politically to legitimize sovereignty. The analysis underscores the tension between de facto Armenian self‑governance and de jure Azerbaijani sovereignty, situating Artsakh within broader debates on identity and international law. It also considers the humanitarian dimension, including the 2023 refugee crisis, which displaced over 100,000 Armenians. Ultimately, the article argues that reconciliation requires acknowledging contested histories while prioritizing peace and coexistence. Artsakh thus emerges as both historically Armenian and legally Azerbaijani, embodying the paradox of memory and sovereignty in the South Caucasus.