16 members of Switzerland parliament send written request to executive regarding return of Karabakh Armenians

The pro-Armenian member of The Federal Assembly—The Swiss Parliament, Erich Vontobel, with the signatures of 15 other MPs, on Thursday sent a written request to the executive branch of power of Switzerland regarding the return of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and the restoration of their rights.

September 19 marks the anniversary of Azerbaijan’s attack and expulsion of the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh after subjecting them to a ten-month blockade. This blockade led to the forcible prevention of the supply of essential goods (food, medical care, medicines, etc.) through the Lachin corridor. The physical and psychological pressure became unbearable, and many pregnant women had to mourn the loss of their child during this time. Azerbaijan’s campaign is widely seen as ethnic cleansing or genocide, as the then prosecutor of the International Court of Justice, Luis Moreno Ocampo, noted in his August 2023 report.

At least 23 Armenians are still being held hostage by the Azerbaijani government, and Azerbaijan has launched a program of mass destruction of cultural heritage. Churches, medieval cemeteries and entire villages that belonged to the Armenians, who lived there continuously for thousands of years, will be demolished.

Despite these atrocities, Azerbaijan has not been sanctioned or held accountable by the international community in any way. On the contrary, last December, Azerbaijan was chosen as the venue for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference COP29.

In view of this, I would like to ask the Federal Council to answer the following questions:

Does Switzerland recognise the right of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to return to their homeland and exercise their right to self-determination?
Does the Swiss delegation at COP29 intend to raise the issue of ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh and the right of return of its inhabitants?

On September 23, the executive power of Switzerland must answer the following questions—from the rostrum of the parliament.

– Does Switzerland recognize the right of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to return to their homeland and exercise their right to self-determination there?

– At COP29, does the Swiss delegation intend to raise the issue of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and the right of return of its inhabitants?

See also: An Appeal to the Swiss Government