Chronology

Karabakh Movement's Revival During Gorbachev's Glasnost Reform, 1987-1990

1987
October Armenians in the Armenian-dominated village Chardakli in northwestern Azerbaijan refuse to accept the appointment of an Azeri as director of the village. This led to the local Communist Party crackdown on villagers, which the Armenians meant had the goal to drive them out of the village.

1988
January After the events in Chardakli, the Azerbaijani population of Armenia begins noticing harassment and many are forced to leave the country. The first refugee wave reaches Baku and settles in the industrial city of Sumgait. Two new refugee groups arrive before the end of February.
January Tens of thousands of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh signed a petition sent to Moscow, which calls for a referendum in the region to determine Karabakh's future.
January 25 Following the escalation of tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis reports arrive about the Azerbaijanis escape from the Armenian town of Kapan adjacent to the border with Azerbaijan.
February 13 The first demonstrations held in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO), calling for the reunification of NKAO with Armenia.
February 19 The first demonstrations of the Karabakh conflict takes place in Baku.
February 20 During an extraordinary session of NKAO's Soviet of People's Representatives, with the votes 110 against 17, a resolution is passed on "Application to the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR and Armenian SSR for NKAO's transfer from Azerbaijani SSR to Armenian SSR."
February The Karabakh Committee is created, whose main goal is the reunification of Karabakh with Armenia.
February 22 Azeri militia from Aghdam attack the village of Askeran in Karabakh, but face harsh resistance from the residents.
February 26 Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, to show their support for NKAO's return to the Armenian SSR.
February 27 to 29 Mass pogroms and killing of Armenians takes place in the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait. Armenians begin to leave their houses and property and flee the country.
March 17 Nagorno-Karabakh Communist Party's District Committee approves the resolution from NKAO's Soviet about the transfer to the Armenian SSR.
March 23 USSR Supreme Soviet in Moscow rejects Karabakh's demand for reunification with Armenia without possibility of appeal.
June 15 With reference to Article 70 of the Soviet Constitution, Armenian SSR's Supreme Soviet gives its consent to NKAO's inclusion in the Armenian SSR.
July 18 USSR Supreme Soviet starts discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Soviet state television broadcasts the session. NKAO's representative points out that it is impossible for NKAO to remain part of the Azerbaijani SSR.
July 26 The local soviet in Shahumian (Northern Artsakh), votes for reunification with Nagorno-Karabakh.
September 21 Moscow announces state of emergency in NKAO.
November 23 Pogroms against Armenians in Kirovabad (present-day Ganja) takes place. Reportedly, up to 30 Armenians are killed, while 10 or so Azerbaijanis are killed by Soviet troops who protect the Armenians against the mob. Two Soviet soldiers are reported killed as well.
December 7 A devastating earthquake hits Armenia. Nearly 25,000 people lose their lives. The disaster entails some attenuation of the Karabakh issue.
December 10 The Karabakh Committee's members are arrested by Soviet authorities.

1989
January 12 USSR Supreme Soviet creates the NKAO's Special Administration Committee (SCA). Thereby the NKAO is removed from Azerbaijan's administrative rule and place it under Moscow's direct control. At the same time the authority of NKAO's Communist Party and People's Soviet is suspended and the power is transferred to the SCA.
May 31 The Karabakh Committee members are released.
August Azerbaijan starts its economic blockade against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
August 27 For the first time since the Sovietization of Armenia, non-Communists are elected to the Armenian SSR's Supreme Soviet.
November 28 USSR Supreme Soviet dissolves NKAO's Special Administrative Committee and creates NKAO's Republican Organizational Committee and appoints the deputy chairman of the Azerbaijani Communist Party, V. Polyanichko, to its leaders. In this way, Moscow attempts to return NKAO to Azerbaijan. Karabakh Armenians reject the resolution.
December 1 A joint session of the Armenian SSR's Supreme Soviet and NKAO's National Soviet adopts unanimously a resolution on the return of Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

1990
January 13 to 20 Pogroms against Armenians starts in Azerbaijan's capital Baku and up to 90 Armenians were killed and their homes and property vandalized. The Armenian church is burned to the ground. The majority of the city's Armenian population of almost 200,000 are forced to leave their houses and possessions and flee the country.
January 15 USSR Supreme Soviet announces a state of emergency in Nagorno-Karabakh and some regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
August 23 Armenian SSR's Supreme Soviet proclaims its independence.