Weekly update
28 January
The situation around the Lachin Corridor is an obstacle to the advancement of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenpress reports US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried said in an interview with the Armenian service of "Voice of America". According to the high-ranking diplomat, Washington is actively making efforts to reopen the corridor. Assistant Secretary of State Donfried emphasizes that the issue of blocking the Lachin Corridor was the primary topic in the recent telephone conversations of Secretary of State Blinken with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. "The Secretary of State called for the immediate reopening of the corridor and stressed the importance of unhindered commercial and private traffic. We are very concerned about the situation of the local Armenian population in Nagorno Karabakh. We will continue to be involved and put pressure over this situation," she said. In addition, according to Donfried, there are other obstacles in the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiation process. "Besides that, of course, there is a decades-long painful history in the relations between the two countries. Thus, both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides have understandable concerns, and we note a lack of trust between these two countries," asserts Donfried.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1102782.html
27 January
The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention is shocked and horrified that BBC HARDtalk Anchor Stephen Sackur offered genocide as one of two “realistic options” facing Armenians in Artsakh during an interview with Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan that aired on 23 January 2023. In line with armradio.am, referring to the blockade of Artsakh by the dictatorial regime of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Sackur asked Vardanyan: “You now control a tiny enclave which is suffering from the economic blockade right now, and it seems your only realistic option is either to work out a political deal with Azerbaijan or for the people, the Armenian community in Nagorno-Karabakh, to decide that this is no longer sustainable and leave the territory. So, which is it to be – a political deal or leave?” The Lemkin Institute has pointed out in numerous Red Flag Alerts and Statements, forcing people to leave their land on threat of death is a form of genocide. The Lemkin Institute said in a statement it is surprised to have to point out that genocide should never be offered to threatened peoples as a possible “realistic option” going forward.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/01/27/lemkin-institute-says-horrified-by-bbcs-stephen-sackurs-genocidal-proposal/
26 January
Vladimir Vardanyan, member of the Armenian delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, drew attention to the rhetoric of the president of Azerbaijan and the humanitarian problems caused by the closure of the Lachin Corridor, reminding that the 120 thousand residents of Nagorno Karabakh are also protected under the organization, all citizens should have the same guarantees of human rights. According to Armenpress reports, Vardanyan emphasized in his speech that, unfortunately, some member states still continue to behave against the values of this organization. "I'm sorry, but this rhetoric is not normal for the Council of Europe, this cannot be considered a commitment undertaken within the framework of the Council of Europe. At this very moment, when we comfortably discuss the issues related to the protection of human rights, 120 thousand people, who are protected under this organization, this Assembly, the European Commission of Human Rights, are starving. And we are waiting for any response from the international community," said Vardanyan. He emphasized that the organization should have the same standards for all countries, because all citizens protected by the European Convention should have the same guarantees of human rights and should enjoy the values of democracy.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1102663.html
25 January
Worldwide superstar, Academy Award-winning actress, Emmy and Grammy Award winner Cher and physician, Emmy-nominated film producer, entrepreneur Dr. Eric Esrailian wrote an article for Newsweek, raising awareness on the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh resulting from the Azerbaijani blockade of Lachin corridor. “As Armenian Americans, we want to be hopeful about the new year, but the ongoing crisis for the citizens of Artsakh and Armenia makes it difficult to do so. They are enduring a brutal campaign that is currently threatening the lives of over 120,000 men, women and children, and they desperately need the attention of the world to act now and save lives. The barbaric Azerbaijani blockade of the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia has cut off the delivery of food and lifesaving supplies. This campaign of ethnic cleansing, and the brazen attempts at cultural erasure, are barbaric. Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh using Soviet-era terminology, is an ancestral Armenian land that was placed within the borders of Azerbaijan when Joseph Stalin and his government infamously drew the maps of the Soviet Union.
https://www.newsweek.com/you-cannot-erase-us-opinion-1776282
24 January
In line with azatutyun.am Armenian law-enforcement authorities said on Tuesday that they have still not arrested or charged anyone five days after 15 soldiers died at their military barracks destroyed by a major fire. According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, the fire erupted early on January 19 at the makeshift barracks in a border village in eastern Gegharkunik province that housed 22 soldiers of an engineer-sapper company. Citing the preliminary findings of investigators, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Defense Minister Suren Papikian said hours later that it was sparked by an officer who poured gasoline into a woodstove in breach of the military’s fire-safety rules. Another military officer serving in the village effectively dismissed this theory, however. He insisted that no gasoline was stored in or just outside the two-room village house turned into the barracks. Human rights activists monitoring the country’s armed forces say they have seen little evidence of reforms. They and other critics have pointed to the poor conditions of the dead and injured soldiers’ service. “…don’t they have the funds to provide soldiers defending us with decent accommodation?” said Menua Soghomonian, one of the activists who demonstrated outside Pashinian’s office.
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32237413.html
23 January
It is the 43rd day of the blockade and despite calls by the European Parliament, UN Secretary General and over a dozen countries to unblock the road, concrete efforts for ending the blockade are nowhere in sight. In line with evnreport.com it is important to acknowledge that the doctrine of R2P is not a perfect solution for the prevention of atrocity crimes and as critics rightly point out, it can potentially be misused by powerful states or pose a challenge to sovereignty. At the same time, it is equipped to build an international community that is “less tolerant to mass atrocities and more predisposed to preventing them.” As the humanitarian crisis deepens and essential goods and services in Nagorno-Karabakh become scarce, educational institutions have closed indefinitely, power cuts have become more frequent and the population is allocated only a very limited amount of food products through food stamps. There is an imminent risk of ethnic cleansing if world powers choose not to respond to Azerbaijan’s strategically orchestrated agenda. In more simple terms, Azerbaijan’s behavior meets all of the criteria that triggers the implementation of the R2P principle, and the international community must resolutely raise this issue in order to deter the Aliyev regime from continuing its predatory policies.
https://evnreport.com/politics/responsibility-to-protect-and-the-ongoing-blockade-of-nagorno-karabakh/
22 January
The Armenian Youth Federation – Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (AYF-YOARF) Washington DC “Ani” Chapter organized a community protest on Saturday in front of the White House, demanding that President Joe Biden and his administration take action against Azerbaijan for its relentless, inhumane blockade of Artsakh. According to armenianweekly.com over 100 Armenian community members and allies gathered in the early afternoon, holding US, Artsakh and Armenian flags as well as informational posters distributed by chapter members. “Thank you all for being here today to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Artsakh in this time of crisis,” began AYF DC “Ani” Chapter chair Nayiri Shahnazarian. The protest marked the 41st day of the Artsakh blockade. “We are here today in front of the White House not only to spread awareness of these atrocities, but also to demand that our government — the Biden administration — pressure Azerbaijan to end the blockade, stop all military aid to Azerbaijan, sanction Azerbaijan for their war crimes and provide emergency aid to Artsakh,” Shahnazarian continued. She then led the community into chants condemning the aggressive actions taken by Azerbaijan and its dictator Ilham Aliyev and calling for swift action from the Biden Administration.
https://armenianweekly.com/2023/01/22/ayf-washington-dc-demands-biden-administration-sanction-azerbaijan-in-white-house-protest/
21 January
Seventeen-year-old Vahagn was one of the sixteen children returning to Artsakh yesterday via the Lachin Corridor when their cars were stopped and boarded by Azerbaijani “eco-activists” who started filming the frightened kids. According to hetq.am the Azerbaijanis, some fifteen in number, disobeyed the Russian peacekeepers escorting the two vehicles of children who has travelled to Armenia in December to watch the Junior Eurovision competition. The Azerbaijanis released a video of the children, some hiding their faces in fear. One was Vahagn, who wants to start playing the trumpet again. Vahagn says they were staying in Goris when they got the news of the possibility of returning to Artsakh. The kids hurriedly prepared and boarded two minivans. Vahagn says the Azerbaijanis who entered their car introduced themselves as journalists, started filming, and then offered juice, but the children refused. The Azerbaijanis tried to get into the other car but the children, with whom there were also Russian peacekeepers, resisted and did not let them film. "As soon as the door opened, the boys came forward and prevented them from filming. There were not many of us, and the Russian peacekeepers in that car also pushed them out before they could film," says Vahagn. One of the girls in the car fainted.
https://hetq.am/en/article/152238
Sources: armenpress.am, armradio.am, newsweek.com, azatutyun.am, evnreport.com, armenianweekly.com, hetq.am