Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) Statement on the Humanitarian Crisis in Nagorno Karabakh, September, 2023
The Executive Committee of the Society for Armenian Studies strenuously condemns the Azerbaijani attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, which targets ethnic Armenian population of the region. It is deeply troubling that Azerbaijan is characterizing this aggression as an ‘anti-terrorist operation,’ and deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in more than 200 deaths and 400 injuries within two days of this aggressive campaign. As many have observed, these unilateral actions not only violate the terms of trilateral agreement between Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan from November 9, 2020, but also international law and pose a severe threat to the lives of innocent civilians, exacerbating an already fragile situation in the region.
The Russian peacekeepers, who according to November 9, 2020 agreement were deployed in the region failed to protect local Armenian population from Azerbaijani government’s unlawful actions for the past nine months as well as during these 2 days of escalation.
On September 20, 2023, Nagorno-Karabakh’s new political leadership, which came to power less than two weeks ago, surrendered and agreed voluntarily to disarm and comply with Azerbaijan’s terms of integration.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s surrender and the exodus of Armenians from the region come amidst a backdrop of severe risks to the lives of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, who have been living under an authoritarian blockade by Azerbaijan for the past nine months.
