The latest and most violent chapter of this dispute started in early 1988. when seizing on the program of political reform launched by Mikhail Gorbachev. the regional legislature of Karabagh formally requested approval to reunite peacefully with Armenia. But the following summer. the Government of Azerbaijan prevailed upon Gorbachev to reject this petition. and by the end of 1988. the Soviets had imprisoned more than 200 leaders of the Armenian Karabagh community and turned a blind eye toward a deliberate Azerbaijani effort to depopulate Armenian villages in and around this enclave. Over a short period of 2 months. this human eviction campaign created 200.000 Armenian refugees. Twice again in 1989. Mr.
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refugees