At the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, where the claim of Armenia against Azerbaijan was examined, the lawyers representing the interests of Armenia presented how the former officials of Karabakh were arrested, and they are waiting for their trial today in connection with the fabricated charges against them. Professor Linos–Alexandre Sicilianos mentioned that the figures of Nagorno-Karabakh are imprisoned by Baku, and the Azerbaijanis plan to arrest Armenians again; they have an arrest list of about 300 people, so he demanded that Azerbaijan abandon punitive measures against the detained officials. He emphasized that the definition of ethnic cleansing also includes expulsion and killing, forcing people to relocate through force or threats, destroying cultural heritage, and creating conditions that deliberately worsen people’s living conditions.
“The entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh was forced to leave the region due to infrastructure damage, the use of force for eviction, and the lack of conditions for return. Living conditions have not been created for the rest, and they are old and sick people.”
He recalled the statement of Azerbaijani President Aliyev that ethnic Armenians will not have special status or privileges.
“How can people trust the authorities in the absence of monitoring when the authorities of this country tortured and extrajudicially punished Armenians for years?” Azerbaijan is taking active steps so that there is no point in returning Armenians. The international convention protects cultural heritage. Despite this, Azerbaijan destroyed the cross of Stepanakert and cemeteries and monasteries. The rights to social protection and medical assistance were also violated.”
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The lawyers presented the manifestations of hatred towards Armenians, how Aliyev destroys Armenian signs, and announced that from now on, Karabakh will not sing songs in a foreign language, that is, Armenian, and even changes Armenian road signs. Alice McDonald said: “Now Azerbaijan will argue that those who escaped from Karabakh are now in Armenia and are protected.
Of course, the Armenian people will accept them with open arms, they will support them within the limits of human possibilities, and support will also be given from the international community. Still, the problem is that whatever help is given to this vulnerable group of people, their rights under the convention depend on whether they will be able to return to their homeland to enjoy their culture, language, and religion in the homeland of their ancestors, and Azerbaijan violates these rights.”
Professor Shawn Murphy, representing Armenia, also noted that Azerbaijan has not taken any steps to allow the return of Armenians. “Azerbaijan assures us that it will give ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh all the rights and freedoms defined by its constitution. However, such vague assurances are not sufficient to meet the necessary conditions for the return of ethnic Armenians, given Azerbaijan’s long-standing and well-documented hatred of them. There are no concrete assurances that, for example, civilians will not be persecuted if they return, that houses that have been destroyed will be rebuilt, and that houses that have not been destroyed will not be given to Azerbaijanis. The promise of reintegration does not respect the status of NK as an autonomous region.
In contrast, President Aliyev promised that the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh would have no status, independence, and special privileges. Azerbaijan’s vague assurances and promises that do not help the situation are useless, considering Azerbaijan’s behavior on the ground the threats to cultural heritage in the territories under their control. We demand to allow displaced persons to return to enable them to live there. The following measure we request is the following: Azerbaijan should withdraw all its military and law enforcement forces from the civilian settlements and institutions of Nagorno-Karabakh, which were seized by it due to the September 19, 2023, armed attack. That means getting them out of civilian institutions.
This request refers to the circumstances that led to the displacement of ethnic Armenians and may prevent their return. If they are not removed from civilian buildings, schools, places of worship, and health care facilities, ethnic Armenians, who are well acquainted with the atrocities of Azerbaijanis, will be afraid to return and live in Karabakh.
There are videos of Azerbaijan shooting at civilian houses, taking booty, and soldiers beheading, torturing, and abusing ethnic Armenians. They are awarded in Azerbaijan. The next measure we request is that Azerbaijan should not interfere with UN operations, visits, and contacts with the Armenian population. “Azerbaijan should refrain from actions hindering the activity of the ICRC and actively cooperate with it.”
Shawn Murphy, presenting the subsequent demand, said that Azerbaijan should refrain from punitive actions against former or current leaders, representatives, and representatives of the military command of Nagorno-Karabakh and actions to punish such individuals simply because they sought to protect the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh should be ruled out. Azerbaijan has already detained at least eight former and current high-ranking officials from Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan has also detained an unspecified number of others; Azerbaijan has identified hundreds of ethnic Armenians it plans to detain.
The Court is well aware that there is a long and well-documented history of how ethnic Armenians, captives, were ill-treated by Azerbaijan; therefore, by the Court’s decision, Azerbaijan should be obliged to refrain from actions that would target those persons who had an obligation to provide security, Azerbaijan must respect and protect their fundamental human rights.”
Summing up, Shawn Murphy said that if we believe that Azerbaijan is ready to recognize the rights of ethnic Armenians, they can safely return to their homes, then why is Azerbaijan concerned and objecting to the Court’s interim decision? Isn’t it aimed at the protection of the rights of ethnic Armenians?
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
