The residents of Nagorno-Karabakh must be able to make the decision to leave if they want to leave and to be able to return if they want to return, U.S. Department of State Matthew Miller told a briefing on Thursday, September 28.

"We continue to be greatly concerned about the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. We think it’s important that residents of Nagorno-Karabakh be able to make the decision to leave if they want to leave and to be able to return if they want to return. It’s a decision that they all have to make as individuals, but we think it’s important that they be able to make that decision for themselves," Miller said.

"And we think there ought to be unhindered humanitarian access to the region to make sure that populations in need can get the support that they require."

And Miller said he thinks to best effectuate that it is important that an international mission be established to ensure that those humanitarian needs are addressed.

On September 19, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, which left hundreds of Armenians killed and thousands of others displaced. On September 20, the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to a ceasefire on Azerbaijan’s terms, including the dissolution of the Defense Army. On September 18, President of the Republic of Artsakh Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree, according to which the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) will cease to exist by January 1, 2024. As of September 28 evening, over 78,000 displaced residents have already fled Nagorno-Karabakh and reached Armenia.