‘We don’t pose a threat to anyone’,Artsakh appeals to ‘civilized world’ for help amid risk of annihilation by Azerbaijan

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan is not only deliberately starving the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) to death, but has also brought the people of Nagorno Karabakh on the brink of annihilation, the Speaker of Parliament of Nagorno Karabakh Artur Tovmasyan has said.

“The OSCE Co-Chairs and the leaders of these countries must realize that an Azeri annexation of Artsakh would lead to an exodus of Armenians [from Artsakh],” Tovmasyan said at a parliament session in Stepanakert. “We cannot change the world order. The small Artsakh doesn’t pose a threat, but our people’s right to live safely and fully is threatened. Regrettably, this is happening with tacit consent of the international community,” he added, stating that the ‘civilized world’ has the required levers to impose relevant sanctions against the Azerbaijani regime, which is not only ignoring but also disregarding the rulings of the ECHR and the ICJ.

Lachin Corridor, the only road linking Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since December 2022.

The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 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 so far ignored the order. Furthermore, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor.