On July 15, the delegation of the Artsakh Union met with the member of the European Parliament, Marina Mezyur, to present the crimes committed against the forcibly displaced people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the main priorities for the restoration of rights. These include the immediate and unconditional release of the Armenian hostages held in Baku, the protection of Artsakh’s spiritual and cultural heritage, and the realization of the right of safe, dignified and collective return of around 150,000 people forcibly expelled from their homeland. Let them know from the union.
The organization was presented by Artak Beglaryan, the president of the Artsakh Union, and Armine Aleksanyan, a member of the executive board, head of the foreign relations working group. The delegation conveyed to Ms. Mezyur first-hand evidence of the 2023 Azerbaijani aggression and subsequent mass forced displacement, as well as other violations of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh.
The delegation stated that Azerbaijan continues to illegally keep a group of representatives of the former military-political leadership of the Artsakh Republic and other Armenian prisoners in prison. They face sham trials, which the European Parliament, Amnesty International and independent observers have consistently condemned as politically motivated and lacking any fair trial standards.
“These persons are hostages, not accused. Europe should consider their release as a mandatory precondition for relations with Baku, not a secondary issue pushed in the shadow of energy interests,” Armine Aleksanyan emphasized during the meeting.
During the meeting, a special reference was made to the fate of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage throughout the territory of Artsakh. Centuries-old churches, monasteries, khachkars and cemeteries are now under the control of Azerbaijan. They are subject not only to physical destruction, but also to systematic state-sponsored falsification to falsify genealogy. The Artsakh Union warned Mrs. Mezyur that this cultural genocide is inseparable from the continuous policy of ethnic cleansing of the people. every destroyed church and falsified record is intended to completely exclude any possibility of the native people’s return.
The delegation expressed serious concern about the so-called “peace agenda” promoted by the RA authorities and international mediators, pointing out the flagrant disregard for the protection of the rights and interests of the displaced people of Artsakh.
“The negotiation documents do not contain any provision regarding the collective return of Artsakh citizens and the protection of their rights, which is a direct result of the inaction of the Armenian government,” said Artsakh Union President Artak Beglaryan. “Any settlement built on the neglect and silence of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh cannot bring stable and fair peace in the region. We reaffirm our determination to return and realize other fundamental rights and achieve justice using all available legal and political avenues.”
During the meeting, Marina Mezyur emphasized her continuous concern for the rights of the people of Artsakh, promising to use all possible mechanisms in order to raise the raised issues and implement relevant resolutions of the Council of Ministers. He emphasized that the ethnic cleansing of the people of Artsakh cannot be tolerated by civilized Europe, and Azerbaijan must be held accountable for it.
As a result of the meeting, Mrs. Mezyur sent a written request to the European Commission, demanding the implementation of the right of safe and unimpeded return of the displaced Armenians, based on the binding decision of the UN International Court of Justice of November 17, 2023. He also raised the question of what role this fundamental obligation of human rights should play in the EU’s political and economic relations with Azerbaijan. Ms. Mezyur later posted this written request on her official social media platforms to spread awareness about the issue.
The Artsakh Union highly appreciates Ms. Mezyur’s prompt response and sincere commitment to protect the rights of the forcibly displaced population. The organization is committed to continuing to provide Ms. Mezyur’s office with documented evidence and legal analysis of cultural vandalism and ethnic cleansing to ensure that European institutions are guided not by false assurances from Baku, but by established facts and norms of international law.
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