First evacuees from Nagorno-Karabakh cross into Armenia

The first several hundred refugees from war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh have crossed into Armenian territory, as a historic evacuation begins that could lead to a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians while Azerbaijan appears on the brink of taking control of the breakaway region.

They are the first civilians to have crossed from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia in nearly a year, reuniting families after a 10-month blockade and an intensive Azerbaijan military offensive this week that has left hundreds dead, wounded or missing.

Rima Elizbaryan and her two daughters crossed the border in the early afternoon and were met by her brother, waiting with chocolates and sweets.

It was the first they had seen each other in nearly a year, and the family embraced and cried as they prepared to travel to a relative’s home near the city of Goris, close to the border.

“I’m just so happy right now,” Elizbaryan said. Her brother said: “I always knew they would come, I knew they would be OK.”