The article is based on a presumption that the relations between theArmenian and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic are substantially differentfrom the relations between other de facto states and their patron states.Thus, they can not be explained in the same manner as the relationsbetween Russia and its three “client” de facto states – Abkhazia, SouthOssetia, and Transnistria. Also, the concept of kin-state does not seem to besu"ciently elaborated to explain the Armenian-Karabakhi relations. Theserelations, in comparison with other similar cases, such as the Turkish-NorthCypriot relations, feature a whole range of highly specific features, above allthe dominance of informal institutions and practices. The article identifiesthis complex systems of mutual relations and introduces the term informalasymmetric confederation to describe it. According to this model, therelations between the Armenian and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic arebased on a common ethno-cultural framework, mutually mingling politicalelites and a handful of formal and, most importantly, a whole range ofinformal mechanisms, which enable both entities to achieve political deals,as well as to mutually influence each other’s internal decision makingprocesses.