Freedom House’s new report reveals deliberate ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, detailing human rights violations and cultural erasure. The report underscores the need for international accountability and aid for displaced Armenians, as the region faces ongoing crises amidst geopolitical tensions.
In a sobering new report, Freedom House unveils a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Azerbaijani regime against ethnic Armenians in the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh. This comprehensive 130-page document outlines grim evidence of human rights violations and war crimes, detailing the strategies of forced displacement and cultural erasure employed since the conclusion of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. As the world gears up for the UN Climate Summit in Baku, the release of this report throws an ominous shadow over the international community’s response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The findings illustrate a calculated effort to obliterate the Armenian presence in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Freedom House documenting extrajudicial killings, a devastating blockade, and policies intended to erase Armenian culture. “Baku’s military offensive and the use of blockade, starvation, and threats were brutal tactics meant to forcibly displace ethnic Armenians out of Nagorno-Karabakh,” stated Andranik Shirinyan, page-turning the narrative from political dispute to dark humanitarian tragedy. The report emphasizes that such actions not only violate human rights but may qualify as crimes against humanity under international law. This report arrives at a critical juncture, with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev denying the ethnic cleansing claims and framing the military offensives as anti-terror initiatives. Yet, despite widespread condemnation from the United States and the European Union, punitive actions against Azerbaijan remain absent, allowing the cycle of violence and displacement to continue unchecked. The voices of displaced ethnic Armenians resonate through this report as a clarion call for justice and accountability, underscoring the necessity for the global community to intervene.
The ethnic tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh, fueled by historical grievances and territorial claims, have seen cycles of violence culminating in military confrontations. After the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, there was a significant escalation in hostilities, culminating in a 2023 Azerbaijani military offensive. The region has historically been populated by ethnic Armenians, whose presence is now under threat due to Azerbaijan’s state policies that restrict their rights and aim at eliminating their cultural heritage. The urgency to address these human rights abuses has never been more pronounced as reports of ethnic cleansing surface, catalyzing calls for international awareness and action.
The report by Freedom House serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked power and ethnic strife in Nagorno-Karabakh. Documenting systematic ethnic cleansing, the evidence paints a distressing picture of human rights violations that not only demand immediate international attention but also accountability for the perpetrators. With 100,000 ethnic Armenians displaced and cultural heritage endangered, the report urges a united response that upholds dignity, security, and justice for those affected as the world watches.
Original Source: asbarez.com
