Artsakh Cultural Heritage Ombudsman, Vice-President of the “National” Historical-Cultural NGO Hovik Avanesov
The day of the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1948; entered into force on January 12, 1951) is not only a reminder of a historical fact, but also a stark record of the international community’s failure to fulfill its own obligations. This day once again compels an assessment of Azerbaijan’s organized depopulation of Artsakh, the mass violations of human rights, and the deliberate destruction of Armenian cultural heritage—issues to which the responses of international institutions remain delayed, vague, or merely formal.
The September 2023 attack, the unlawful blockade of the preceding months, and the forced displacement of the entire Armenian population of Artsakh were, from the perspective of international law, not only serious alarms but also a collection of facts that clearly correspond to the stages of preparation and execution of genocide.
Nevertheless, the majority of the international community confined itself to diplomatic condemnations which, in practice, served more as tacit permission for Azerbaijan than as an effective deterrent mechanism.
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This silence and inaction have created a dangerous precondition, enabling Baku not only to justify its repressive policies but also to rewrite historical truth. The occupation and depopulation of Artsakh are presented as “normalization,” while the indecision of international organizations is interpreted as authorization. This is a dangerous precedent that may, in the future, undermine the entire system of genocide prevention, reducing it to a document of ceremonial character.
Moreover, the systematic destruction and appropriation of Armenian cultural heritage—churches, monasteries, khachkars, and other cultural assets—demonstrate a program aimed at the complete elimination of cultural presence. Yet international bodies that are obliged to protect cultural heritage continue to act slowly, avoiding giving a clear legal assessment of the situation and refraining from demanding real accountability.
Today, the day marking the adoption of the Genocide Prevention Convention has become an ironic symbol. It reminds us that the international community often responds to genocide only after it has already taken place—tragically failing at prevention precisely when the threat stands before individuals and entire peoples.
The occupation of Artsakh and the forced displacement of the Armenians of Artsakh cannot be viewed solely as the result of Azerbaijan’s policies; they are also the consequence of the insufficient will and consistency of international institutions. If international law is to retain its value and authority, this period of inaction must end—with clear assessments, real accountability, and concrete measures. Otherwise, all statements about the prevention of genocide will become yet another set of toothless declarations.
