By Die Welt, translated by Vestnik Kavkaza
The German periodical Die Welt published an article by Frank Stoker on money minted by the unrecognized regime in Nagorno-Karabakh. We present a translation of the article which headlined by a German pun and can be translated both as “in the world of illusions” and “in the world of money.”
It is about several mountains and several thousand people who live there – the territory which is called in the literal translation “Mountain black garden.” However, the most discussable topics are nationalism and religion in Nagorno-Karabakh. After the bloody war which began right after the Soviet Union’s collapse, the region which used to be inhabited mainly by Armenians was occupied by Armenian troops. Its capital Stepanakert even proclaimed an independent state which hadn’t been recognized by any country in the world because according to the international law, this territory belongs to Azerbaijan.
Despite this fact, Nagorno-Karabakh even releases its own money of two kinds: valued of two and ten drams. They are printed by the Austrian state typography. Similarity with Armenia’s national currency is not only in the name which originates from Greek drahma. Like in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh money is rich in Christian grounds. For example, the 2-dram depicts Gandzasar Monastery which is situated in 30 km from Stepanakert. The complex of Dadivank is pictured on the 10-dram piece. It is interesting that this monastery is not situated in the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh autonomy, but in the territory which definitely belongs to Azerbaijan, but is occupied by Armenia since 1994. The opposite side of the two-dram piece depicts the Baptism of Christ.
However, the money is not popular. On the one hand, ten drams are equal to two cents only. On the other hand, they use Armenian drams. Nagorno-Karabakh money is printed for selling them to collectors and attracting some real capital to the country.
Azerbaijan is still fighting against the occupation of its territories, including through banknotes. The opposite side of all Azerbaijani banknotes depicts the map of the country - of course with Nagorno-Karabakh. In Germany eBay and other Internet platforms offer coins and paper money from Nagorno-Karabakh, while members of the Azerbaijani Diaspora write protest letter. They state that there is no such country.
