After the “ceasefire” in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh)

After the “ceasefire” of September 20, 2023, the Armenian people of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) are now in a desperate situation: “Over the course of nine months, they were systematically starved out and cut off from medical care. They were unable to defend themselves against the major offensive by Azerbaijan on September 19. Now, they are living in fear of an uncertain future,” stated Sarah Reinke, expert on Eastern Europe at the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), on the sidelines of a vigil for the people in Artsakh. “Now, the people of Artsakh will have to decide between forced displacement, starvation, or unconditional subjugation to the Aliyev regime.” The German Federal Government should finally react decisively to the aggression.

In an appeal that will be handed over to the Federal Chancellery today, the signatory organizations demand:

• the Azerbaijani military forces to pull back from the autonomous republic of Nagorno Karabakh
• ceasefire observers to be sent to the region
• a clear condemnation of Azerbaijan’s crimes 
• an international independent investigation into the current situation 
• sanctions against those who are responsible – namely President Ilham Aliyev and Rovshan Najaf, President of the Azerbaijani state-run oil company SOCAR
• a deployment of international peacekeeping forces 

In addition to the Society for Threatened Peoples, the appeal was signed by the “Arbeitsgruppe Anerkennung – Gegen Genozid, für Völkerverständigung e.V.”, the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Germany, the Central Council of the Armenians in Germany, the Central Council of the Oriental Christians in Germany, the International Society for Human Rights, and the Federal Working Group of Immigrant Associations. 

Photos of the vigil can be found in the attachment.

Contact 

Sarah Reinke (STP): +49 1590 43 63 924

Jonathan Spangenberg (Central Council of the Armenians): +49 177 167 81 65

Dr. Tessa Hofmann (Arbeitsgruppe Anerkennung): +49 30 85 17 974