Safety and Security

In light of ongoing global and regional threats against U.S. and foreign interests, U.S. citizens are advised to remain vigilant, particularly in public places frequented by or associated with westerners. In the past, spontaneous demonstrations and riots have happened and some have been suppressed with force.  

Separatists, with Armenia’s support, continue to control most of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven other Azerbaijani territories.  The final status of Nagorno-Karabakh remains the subject of international mediation by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, the United States, and France, and a cease-fire regime has been in effect since 1994.  However, travelers need to be aware there are frequent violations.

Hostilities continue along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact separating Azerbaijani and Armenian positions, often resulting in injuries and death.   Consular services are not available to U.S. citizens in Nagorno-Karabakh or the occupied territories surrounding it.  You should avoid travel to these areas.  Travel across the Azerbaijan-Armenia international border is also not possible due to ongoing hostilities.  Travelers should remain clear of the border areas and comply with Azerbaijani checkpoints set up to keep travelers from hazardous areas. 

Also, although de-mining operations have been conducted, land mines remain in some areas in and near the conflict zones along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and the Line of Contact, as well as inside Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories.  Land mines result in a handful of deaths and injuries each year.

Traveling to the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories via Armenia without the consent of the Government of Azerbaijan, is unlawful and could make a traveler ineligible to visit Azerbaijan in the future.  Engaging in any commercial activities in the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories, whether directly or through business subsidiaries, without the consent of the Government of Azerbaijan, can result in criminal prosecution and/or other legal action being taken against individuals and/or businesses in Azerbaijan.  It may also affect your ability to travel to Azerbaijan in the future.

If you are of Armenian ancestry, travel to Azerbaijan presents risks.  The Government of Azerbaijan has stated it is unable to guarantee your safety, though the U.S. Embassy has not received reports of threats to U.S. citizen travelers’ safety based solely on their Armenian heritage.

You should exercise caution when travelling to the culturally conservative and unrest-prone region of Nardaran, located 45 km from Baku on the Absheron Peninsula.  Nardaran has been the site of several volatile anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments protests in the last several years.