Author: Kanayan Tamar

 15:35,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. United States Congressman Brad Sherman has called on the Biden Administration to sanction Azerbaijan amid its ongoing ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The ethnic cleansing of Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] is unfolding before our eyes as Armenians flee their home of +2000 years. Azerbaijan’s arrest of Artsakh’s leaders sends a message to Armenian residents – you’re next. Ruben Vardanyan & all who have been unjustly arrested must be released.

“The Biden Admin. must publicly tell Azerbaijan: end this now or face sanctions. Last week Rep. Chris Smith & I introduced H.R.5686 to sanction Azerbaijan for its war crimes in Artsakh. This is the 21st century – the U.S. cannot turn a blind eye to ethnic cleansing,” Sherman said on X.

 10:11,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno-Karabakh presidential advisor Davit Babayan said on Thursday that he has decided to turn himself in to the Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies.

He announced his decision in a statement posted on Facebook.

“As you know, I am included in Azerbaijan’s black list, and the Azerbaijani side has requested my arrival to Baku for a relevant investigation. I decided to travel to Shushi from Stepanakert today. This decision will naturally cause great pain, worry and stress first of all to my family members, but I am sure they will understand. Not turning myself in, or moreover fleeing, would seriously harm our [anguished] people, many, many people, and I, as an honest man, a working, patriotic Christian, cannot allow it. God bless our people, may the Almighty reduce our people’s suffering and heal its wounds,” Babayan said.

 10:37,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno-Karabakh President Samvel Shahramanyan has signed an order on dissolving all state agencies and organizations on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Nagorno-Karabakh official InfoCenter reported.

The order was signed given the “grave military-political situation and pursuant to ensuring the physical security and essential interests of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh as a priority, taking into consideration the agreement reached with Azerbaijan mediated by the Russian peacekeeping forces command that the free, voluntary and unimpeded passage of the NK residents with their property and vehicles through Lachin Corridor will be taken into consideration.”

All ministries and other state agencies and organizations will be disbanded by January 1, 2024 and the “NK (Artsakh) Republic ceases to exist,” reads the order.

“The population of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the population now outside the republic, after this order takes effect, becomes acquainted with the terms of reintegration presented by Azerbaijan with the purpose of making an individual decision in the future on the opportunity to stay (return) in/to NK,” reads the order.

The order is effectively immediately.

 13:08,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday evacuated 13 patients from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for urgent treatment, the Nagorno-Karabakh Ministry of Healthcare announced in a statement.

All patients were accompanied by their attendants.

Nagorno-Karabakh hospitals have suspended normal operations due to the Azerbaijani blockade.

The ICRC plans to transport another 5 patients who’ve completed treatment in Armenia back to Nagorno-Karabakh later today.

26 children are hospitalized in the Arevik clinic in Nagorno-Karabakh. 7 of them are in neonatal and intensive care.

Another 91 patients are hospitalized in the Republican Medical Center of Nagorno-Karabakh. 5 of the patients are in intensive care, 3 of whom are in critical condition.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.

Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials and experts warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

 23:44,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has described his phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as “substantial and useful.”

“The conversation with Erdogan was strictly official. I can say that the conversation was substantial and useful. There are a number of nuances, and it’s important for a constant conversation to take place around these nuances, positions and assessments,” PM Pashinyan said in an interview with Public Television on Monday.

 11:23,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Justice Ministry has presented to parliament the Protocol N. 13 to the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty in All Circumstances, for ratification.

Deputy Minister of Justice Karen Karapetyan told lawmakers that the protocol was signed by Armenia in 2006 but hasn’t been ratified. “Whereas, this protocol is one of the unique international documents for which every year, as part of the universal campaign for abolition of death penalty, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers is making written inquiries to Council of Europe member countries who haven’t ratified it, to clarify the reasons for delay,” he said.

“The ratification of the protocol is in line with Armenia’s policy as a country that is in favor of full abolition of death penalty. Moreover, death penalty is already prohibited by the Armenian constitution. The number 13 protocol is in line with the international obligations already assumed by Armenia,” Karapetyan added.

 16:34,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Germany will provide an additional €2 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its humanitarian mission in Nagorno-Karabakh, the German Embassy to Armenia announced on Monday.

“The humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh is very tense. Germany is therefore providing the ICRC with additional 2 million euros for its life-saving work in the region. It is important that the aid arrives now, which is why we are committed to open humanitarian access,” the German embassy said in a statement posted on X.