Famous Armenian-American lawyer, “Kerkonyan

In his speech, Kerkonyan noted that after the forced deportation of 150 thousand native Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan continues to prevent their safe return, violating the decision of the International Court of Justice of November 17, 2023. According to him, in fact, just two months ago, Azerbaijan expelled the 11 Armenians remaining in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“But this is not enough, Mr. Vice President, Azerbaijan continues to destroy Armenian culture and religious heritage, violating the requirements of the decision of the International Court of Justice of December 7, 2021, seeking to erase even the evidence of our people’s presence in Nagorno-Karabakh, a presence that has lasted for 4,000 years.

Today, Azerbaijan is deviously detaining 20 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, subjecting them to false trials and torture, without access to a lawyer or even evidence against them. By expelling the Red Cross, Azerbaijan deprived these detainees of independent humanitarian observation. These violations require a response from the board.

Mr. Vice President, the elected representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh are ready to participate in the peace forum initiated by the Swiss Parliament last year. We ask the Human Rights Council to stand by our people, because we strive for the most fundamental human rights, the right to return to our native homeland,” said Garnik Kerkonyan.

On his Facebook page, referring to his above speech, Kerkonyan wrote:

“JUST PEACE.

The right of forcibly displaced Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh to return to their native homeland remains on the agenda of the international community, and today also in the UN Human Rights Council. Real and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan must address the right of the people of Artsakh to collectively return to their homeland, under security and protection and with the undisturbed preservation of their fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination. Ethnic cleansing is not the way to peace. It has never been like that.”

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