STATEMENT OF HRRC ON THE OCCASION OF LAND-TO-LAND ATTACK ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

On 19 September, 2023, after 9 months of blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Azerbaijan proceeded to an intense land-to-land attack on Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Injuries and deaths, including among children, destruction of civil infrastructure, including targeting of schools and residential buildings, have been reported by Artsakh Ombudsman and Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia (see here).

On 22 February of this year, the International Court of Justice issued a ruling obliging Azerbaijan "to take all measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both direction"(see here). Azerbaijan, however, has not undertaken any actions in compliance with the aforementioned decision.

So far, the international response to the outrageous policies and acts of Azerbaijan have been largely inadequate or ineffective, lacking due condemnation of the aggression and practical actions by relevant international actors and institutions.

On 23 September, 2022, Genocide Watch issued a genocide warning for Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, given “Azerbaijan’s unprovoked military attacks on Armenia and on the unrecognized Armenian Republic of Artsakh” (see here ).

Blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the military attacks on the territory of Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan directly violates the terms of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November, 2020 and constitutes a gross and continuous violation of the rights of Artsakh Armenians.

Human Rights Research Center calls upon international political bodies and institutions, international human rights organizations and groups to undertake rapid proactive actions (including application of political and economic sanctions):

• to prevent further bloodshed of Artsakh Armenians and oblige Azerbaijan to immediately seize the fire,

• to oblige those in control of the Lachin Corridor, namely Azerbaijani authorities and Russian peacekeeping forces, to restore and to ensure a free and secure passage in both directions along the Lachin Corridor without any preconditions.

Currently, the Director of Human Rights Research Center, Anahit Simonyan, participates at the Women Human Rights Defender’s global advocacy week in the scope of the 54th Session of UN Human Rights Council. The picture attached to this statement was taken yesterday in front of the United Nations Office in Geneva.

HRRC will undertake all measures at its disposal to ensure that the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is brought to the immediate attention of the UN mandate holders.

In course of her forthcoming meetings with respective officials, Anahit Simonyan will be particularly focusing on the impact of the closure of the Lachin corridor, as well as that of Azerbaijan’s military attacks on women and girls in Nagorno-Karabakh, including alarming rates of miscarriages in course of 9 months of blockade, malnutrition of pregnant women, instances of rape and torture of female Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani military forces in the aftermath of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020, and the overall impact of 2020 Artsakh war and the post-war situation on the rights of women in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Updates will be provided on HRRC’s official website and social media accounts accordingly.