The Human Rights
Defender notes that the Armenian population of Artsakh has been under a
blockade for more than 7 months, as a result of which the humanitarian disaster
is worsening day by day, indirectly causing irreversible consequences,
including the loss of life.
In particular, due to
the blocking of the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to
Armenia and the world, the human rights of people, especially the fundamental
rights and freedoms of representatives of vulnerable groups, such as the rights
to life, security, freedom of movement, food (nutrition), mental and physical
health, adequate standard of living, and education, and the dignity of the
population, which is a fundamental principle and basis of human rights, are
continuously violated.
The Azerbaijani
authorities installed concrete barriers on the Lachin corridor on June 22,
2023, further hindering the delivery of humanitarian assistance by the Russian
Peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross, worsening the
humanitarian situation in Artsakh (the complete block of the delivery of humanitarian
assistance to Artsakh began on June 15, 2023). Although the concrete barrier
has now been removed, the delivery of humanitarian aid (basic necessities and
food) continues to be blocked by the Azerbaijani authorities. The lack of basic
necessities and food has led to malnutrition, which has significantly affected
the health of the population. Moreover, the Azerbaijani side continuously
obstructs the transfer of patients from Artsakh to Armenia by the International
Committee of the Red Cross; the Azerbaijani side has regularly banned the
transfer of patients as well.
The facts registered,
and the analysis conducted by the Human Rights Defender’s Office prove that the
acts of the Azerbaijani authorities which are aimed at making the realization
of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh impossible, combined with
the state-sponsored policy of Armenophobia pursue one aim: to depopulate
Artsakh from its Armenian population, through the deepening of the humanitarian
crisis. The Human Rights Defender once again calls on international
organizations and actors, to make effective efforts to prevent the forthcoming
ethnic cleansing.
At the same time,
within the context of its mandate, the Human Rights Defender’s Office daily
registers information and facts regarding the continuous gross violations of
human rights and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, as a result of
the Armenophobic policy of the Azerbaijani authorities and presents them to
international organizations.
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