German Foreign Minister Baerbock in the South Caucasus

In a joint letter, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) and the working group “Arbeitsgruppe Anerkennung, gegen Genozid, für Völkerverständigung” (AGA) are calling on German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to – before her visit to the South Caucasus – clearly condemn the collective expulsion of 120,000 Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) by Azerbaijan: “The Foreign Minister should advocate for the international criminal prosecution of Azerbaijan’s crimes and initiate sanctions against the state,” stated Sarah Reinke, the STP’s expert on Eastern Europe. “Further, the German Ministry of Economics should discontinue its pro-rata support of the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce. If there are no consequences for Azerbaijan’s aggression, further attacks against Armenia are to be feared.”

Ms. Baerbock should also advocate for the release of politicians from Artsakh who were illegally arrested by Azerbaijan – especially former President Arayik Harutjunjan, Bako Sahakjan Arkady Ghukanjan, as well as other leading representatives of the Artsakh-Armenians who are kept detained in Baku.

The human rights organizations are warning against believing the promises of ruler Ilham Aliev, as he systematically violates international law and does not keep promises. Thus, it is necessary to provide political support to Armenia. There, the people are bitterly disappointed that Germany watched the hunger blockade for ten months and didn’t intervene when Azerbaijan attacked Artsakh, which had led to the expulsion of the Artsakh-Armenians. According to a statement by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, 14 people were tortured and 64 people were killed in the course of the expulsions. Also, there has been no decisive response to this crime, as demanded by many. Now – in order to protect Armenia from further Attacks by Azerbaijan, and to regain lost trust – Germany has to prove that its expressions of solidarity are not just empty words. Not only in Armenia, the impression has arisen that there are double standards at play when it comes to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Humanitarian aid for the displaced Artsakh-Armenians must be increased with the onset of winter – and it is crucial to strengthen the democratic civil society, which is tirelessly committed to democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, and taking care of the displaced, with long-term cooperations and financial support.