Nagorno Karabakh Republic - Administrative Divisions

Administrative Divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has eight administrative divisions. Their territories include the five districts of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO), the Shahumian district in the Azerbaijan SSR which is currently under Azerbaijani control, and the seven rayons around the former NKAO that are under the control of the NKR forces.

Following the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's declaration of independence, the Azerbaijani government abolished the NKAO and created Azerbaijani rayons in its place. As a result, some of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's divisions correspond with the Azerbaijani rayons, while others have different borders. A comparative table of the current divisions of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the corresponding rayons of Azerbaijan follows:

#	Division	Population (2005)	Rayon(s)	Sahar (city)	Former NKAO?
3	Askeran	16,979	Khojali, portion of Agdam	Askeran	Yes
5	Hadrut	12,005	Southern Khojavend, Jabrayil, portion of Fizuli	Hadrut	Partially
2	Martakert	18,963	Eastern Kalbajar, Western Tartar, portion of Agdam	Martakert	Partially
4	Martuni	23,157	Northern Khojavend, portion of Agdam	Martuni	Partially
7	Qashatagh	9,763	Lachin, Qubadli, Zangilan	Berdzor	No
1	Shahumian	2,560	Southern Goranboy, Western Kalbajar	Kalbajar (formerly Shahumian)	No
6	Shushi	4,324	Shusha	Shushi	Yes
8	Stepanakert (capital)	49,986	Khojali	Stepanakert	Yes
Nagorno-Karabakh		Azerbaijan

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic claims Shahumian, which was not part of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. Representatives from Shahumian declared independence along with Nagorno-Karabakh, and the proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic includes the Shahumian region within its borders. Unlike the rest of Nagorno-Karabakh, Shahumian remains under Azerbaijani control.