Breaking – Genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh

Global ARM strongly supports S. 2900, H.R. 5683 (Rep. Pallone) and H.R. 5686 (Rep. Chris Smith). We expect these bipartisan bill will get swift passage in light of genocide occurring now in Nagorno-Karabakh.

We also strongly support imposing Global Magnitsky sanctions on Azeri leaders as called for in a strong bicameral, bipartisan letter.

The failure to act by global leaders emboldened Azerbaijani Dictator Ilham Aliyev to violate international agreements, numerous cease-fire agreements and two orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Aliyev ignored all calls by the U.S. and other global leaders to refrain from using military force against Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. We are now witnessing ethnic cleansing in real time.

The imposition of the so-called “cease-fire” agreement and bogus “integration” of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians under the rule of Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev is illegitimate, counter to international law and a rebuke to U.S. statements calling for a negotiated settlement. Aliyev has deliberately humiliated the United States. This cannot be acceptable.

Condemnations not to use brute force against the subjugated and starving people of Nagorno Karabakh did not stop the Aliyev regime, in alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, from continuing their campaign of genocide against Nagorno-Karabakh. This military campaign leaves the vulnerable Armenian population with no alternative but to be forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, millennia aged monasteries and cemeteries. Aliyev was never interested in heeding calls to guarantee any rights and security for Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.

Credible reports indicate that large scale atrocities akin to the Bucha massacre have occurred, involving the deaths of an estimated 1,000 civilians. These reports include horrific instances of children being beheaded in front of their parents. In a horrifying display, captures from Azerbaijani social media have been found to offer bounties for decapitated heads and ears of Armenian children in a number of settlements in Nagorno Karabakh-areas where no local or international actor has access. These grave acts contribute to an acute humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting from aggressive military actions by Azerbaijan.

Disturbingly, there are reports that Azerbaijani has a “kill list,” comprising 400 to 1,000 leaders and media figures, including U.S. and EU citizens in Nagorno-Karabakh. This brutal military campaign has resulted in the gut-wrenching separation of thousands of families who are unable to contact their loved ones.

Nagorno Karabakh has become a black box with almost no communication or connection with the outside world.

Azerbaijan’s Intent to Eliminate Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh

Over a century of evidence has documented harassment, discrimination, ethnic cleansing, violence, cultural and religious desecration and genocide by Azerbaijan against Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Founding International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has repeatedly called Azerbaijan’s actions Genocide.

In her September 14 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ambassador Yuri Kim said “the United States will not countenance any action or effort-short-term or long-term—to ethnically cleanse or commit other atrocities against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh”.

On Sept. 21, EU High Representative Joseph Borrell declared: “Azerbaijan bears the responsibility to ensure the rights and security of the Karabakh Armenians, including their right to live in their homes without intimidation and discrimination. Forced displacement of the civilian population through military or other means will be met with a strong response by the EU.”

Under no circumstances can the Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh live safely and freely under the rule of Azerbaijan.

The violence undertaken by Azerbaijan threatens to engulf the entire South Caucasus region in conflict. Aliyev, Putin and Turkish President Erdogan continue threatening the Republic of Armenia with more violence and destabilization. Armenia’s existence as a democratic, pluralistic society is at risk without decisive action by international leaders.

Under Article I of the Genocide convention, there is a duty to prevent this genocide. Azerbaijan is also violative of Article II c) of the Convention by “inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.” Any acceptance of or inaction against Azerbaijan’s and Russia’s actions will make states complicit.

We urge the following actions be undertaken immediately:

• Cosponsor S. 2900.H.R. 5683 (Rep. Pallone) and H.R. 5686 (Rep. Chris Smith)
• Impose Global Magnitsky Sanctions on Azerbaijani Government leaders
• Deploy USAID personnel from Yerevan and Tbilisi to Nagorno-Karabakh to Nagorno-Karabakh immediately to conduct as assessment
• Publicly denounce Azerbaijani attacks as acts of ethnic cleansing and Genocide
• Public statements that the attacks causing ethnic cleansing do not provide any basis for a legitimate and permanent solution on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh
• Support independent international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh for the safeguarding of human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh
• Ensuring freedom of movement through the Lachin Corridor in accordance with the ICJ Orders
• Unconditional and immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani security forces and military installations from the Republic of Armenia
• Unconditional and immediate release of all Armenian POWs and civilians from Azerbaijani custody
• Declaring the unacceptability of any military incursion into the Syunik region or any other part of the Republic of Armenia