Condemnation of the illegal expropriation of properties belonging to the people of Nagorno Karabakh

The Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno Karabakh unequivocally condemns the illegal expropriation of properties belonging to the people of Nagorno Karabakh in Stepanakert and the subsequent settlement of Azeris in these areas. This act constitutes a blatant violation of international law and an affront to the rights and dignity of the indigenous Armenian population, who have been forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands. In September 2023, Azerbaijan carried out a military operation that resulted in the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population from Nagorno Karabakh.

The people of Nagorno Karabakh are being denied their fundamental right of return to their homes under international protection, a right enshrined in various international human rights instruments. Azerbaijan’s continued occupation of swathes of land from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia further demonstrates its disregard for international law and territorial integrity. Moreover, the persistent desecration and destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage by Azerbaijan not only erases the historical presence of Armenians in the region but also constitutes a cultural genocide.

The Committee also highlights the grave issue of Armenian prisoners of war, civilian hostages, and the political leadership of Nagorno Karabakh who are unlawfully held in Azerbaijan. Their continued detention is a clear violation of international humanitarian law and basic human rights. The international community must exert pressure on Azerbaijan to release these individuals immediately and ensure their safe return to their families.

We call on Azerbaijan to cease these violations and engage in meaningful dialogue with representatives of Nagorno Karabakh, as mandated by the International Court of Justice and the resolution of the European Parliament of March 2024. It is imperative that discussions include the safe and unimpeded return of the displaced Armenian population to their homes under robust international protection.

Only through such dialogue and adherence to international legal standards can a just and lasting peace be achieved in the region.

Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno Karabakh
26.06.2024