Brussels, 28 September 2023 – The “Europeans for Artsakh” initiative, comprised of representatives of the Armenian communities from across Europe and over 500 European associations, is organizing a pan-European rally in support of the Republic of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh and its indigenous Armenian population. The rally is held on 1 October 2023, at 14:00 CET at Robert Schuman Square in Brussels.
This protest takes place ahead of the third summit of the European Political Community, scheduled on 5 October 2023. This summit includes a meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, mediated by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Participants of the pan-European rally
Condemn Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh.
Condemn Azerbaijan and the Russian peacekeepers for not fulfilling their obligations under the Trilateral Statement of November 2020, including ensuring the safety of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh.
Urge the EU to put effective pressure on Azerbaijan to stop violating the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, ensure safe, unhindered movement of all Artsakh Armenians as well as goods, cargo through the Lachin Corridor.
Demand that the EU impose targeted sanctions against the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan for the policy of ethnic cleansing towards the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh and for the forced deportation of the latter.
Denounce EU’s continued political support for the so-called “integration” of Artsakh into Azerbaijan, despite the obvious prospect that that this means exodus of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh from their homeland of more than 3000 years or their subjugation in a dictatorship under highly perilous conditions.
Demand immediate accountability against all those officials who have been supporting Azerbaijan’s policy of the “integration” of Artsakh into Azerbaijan, as this has aided and abetted Azerbaijan’s genocidal policy against the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh.
Demand that the Azerbaijani military immediately halt the occupation and the siege of all Armenian cities, towns and villages of Artsakh, remove its military presence from Artsakh and adhere to its obligations under the Trilateral Statement of November 2020.
Require that Azerbaijan immediately and unconditionally releases all Armenian captives, prisoners of war and be held accountable for war crimes and human rights violations it committed during and after the 2020 war. ՝
Call for the recognition of the right to self-determination of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh, as an existential matter in the face of Azerbaijan’s ongoing policy of ethnic cleansing and something which equals to nothing less than their right to life.
Background: Since 12 December 2022 Azerbaijan has imposed a blockade on the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh – 120.000 people, including 30.000 children – creating an unremitting existential crisis, in total violation of the Trilateral Statement, international law and the Geneva Convention. After installing the illegal checkpoint in Lachin corridor in April 2023, Azerbaijan has incrementally imposed a total siege on the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh. Azerbaijan has been using i.a. starvation as a tool of subjugation and, upon the assessment of international experts, including the former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, a method of genocide. On 19 September the Azerbaijani army, launched a military offensive in Artsakh, killing hundreds, including children, infiltrated Armenians towns and villages, cutting the communication between them and creating massive security threat for the indigenous Armenian population. Credible documentation material establishes that the Azerbaijani military is committing war crimes and other atrocities.
Azerbaijan not only blatantly violates the provisions of the Trilateral Statement but it also demonstrates disregard for its international obligations, the orders by the International Court of Justice, the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights , the relevant resolutions of the European Parliament adopted since 2020, the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, the calls by the UN Secretary-General, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UN experts, as well as other international organizations.
