Nagorno-Karabakh: Villagers burn their homes ahead of peace deal

Residents of Kalbajar district raze properties before deadline for disputed territory is returned to Azerbaijan

Villagers outside Nagorno-Karabakh set their homes on fire Saturday before fleeing to Armenia ahead of a weekend deadline that will see some disputed territory handed over to Azerbaijan as part of a peace agreement.

Residents of the Kalbajar district in Azerbaijan, which has been controlled by Armenian separatists for decades, began a mass exodus this week after it was announced that Azerbaijan would regain control on Sunday.