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19 September 2024
Today, we recall the tragic events that culminated in the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno Karabakh.
We remember Azerbaijan’s inhumane blockade of the mountain road, which lasted for nine months, and which prevented trucks from delivering essential supplies. We remember the reports of empty shelves and residents fainting in the street from hunger. We remember Azerbaijan’s encirclement of military forces, which struck fear and dread into the population. We remember Azerbaijan’s final military offensive, on 19 September 2023, which led to the exodus of more than 100,000 Armenians.
We also remember that, at no point, were these serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law prevented, punished or adequately addressed. One year on, our message remains: failure to act gives Azerbaijan a green light to continue its violations with impunity.
- Destruction of homes in Nagorno Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s military offensive on 19 September 2023 (Photo credit: Siranush Sargsyan provided by CSI).
- HART CEO, Sam Mason, at the Armenian border on 12 September 2023, where 20 humanitarian trucks were blocked by Azerbaijan from passing through the mountain road.
- After shellings began in September 2023, hundreds fled to Stepanakert airport in Nagorno Karabakh – there had not been flights here for 30 years. The people were simply hoping in desperation that some planes would come to evacuate them (Photo credit: Nagorno Karabakh’s Human Rights Defender).
- Families fled from Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia with minimal possessions.
We have co-signed an urgent appeal to Switzerland’s Federal Council. You can read the letter here.