Human Rights Union of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees continues to raise the voice of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh on international platforms, says Union's President

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Andranik Grigoryan,  President of the Human Rights Protection Union of Nagorno-Karabakh, presented the work done by the Union and its upcoming programs in his year-end interview with Armenpress.

Grigoryan noted that the Union will continue to raise the voice of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh on international platforms, aiming to protect their violated rights and restore their opportunity for a safe and dignified life.

-Mr. Grigoryan, against the backdrop of this year's geopolitical events, the refugee issue continues to be at the center of the global agenda. As part of the international community's response, attention has also been drawn to the rights of Artsakh Armenians who have been subjected to forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. How do you assess the current situation, and, in your opinion, what approaches could be effective in addressing these challenges?

-Unfortunately, the ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh late last year and the geopolitical developments of this year have once again highlighted the global importance of the issue of refugees and forcibly displaced persons. The ethnic cleansing of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh not only violated the fundamental principles of international law but also deepened the humanitarian crisis.

Yes, throughout the year, the ethnic cleansing of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, calls for the restoration of their violated rights, and accusations against Azerbaijan have received widespread attention in statements from the international community and several reputable organizations. Numerous resolutions have been adopted, and humanitarian assistance has been provided. However, it is necessary to note that no declaratory statement made by the international community has yet served as a basis for restoring the violated rights of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In this regard, it is evident that the international community and organizations must take practical, solid steps, demonstrating a consistent and systematic approach. This includes creating international mechanisms to ensure the safe and dignified return of Artsakh Armenians and their peaceful existence in our millennia-old homeland. It is also important that the international community and relevant structures actively and strictly hold Azerbaijan accountable for gross violations of numerous norms and principles of international law. Only then will it be possible to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents and restore our inalienable rights.

-    We have already mentioned that this year we have witnessed significant geopolitical changes and regional tensions, all of which have led to new refugee flows around the world. We have also heard a number of statements made by the Azerbaijani political elite regarding the issue of the return of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. We would like to understand, in the context of these events, whether the goals and objectives of the Human Rights Protection Union of Nagorno-Karabakh have retained their previous position, and what are the main concepts and principles that underlie your activities?"

-         In the vortex of geopolitical developments, new groups of refugees have emerged again, facing serious challenges. These issues remain unresolved to this day. Among these issues, the right of return of refugees is of the utmost importance, yet it remains unresolved, despite the fact that several fundamental international documents emphasize its imperativeness.

As for the statements made by the Azerbaijani political elite regarding the return of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and, in particular, the accusations leveled against the Armenians of Artsakh, claiming that we have allegedly rejected the integration proposed by Azerbaijan, I consider it necessary to emphasize once again that this policy of Azerbaijan aims to create a false image of tolerance and peace-loving before the international community. It is very gratifying that the international community clearly understands the true nature of this 'game,' but it is regrettable that this realization is not accompanied by appropriate punitive mechanisms, which, in turn, stimulates the emergence of new crimes.

I noted that there are positive signs, and it is encouraging that the increased broad support from the international community and authoritative structures is continuing. We are witnessing how the civilized world is more actively joining our just demands, ensuring greater attention to the issue and resonance on the international stage.

As for our goals and objectives, I would like to emphasize that they continue to be the priorities underlying our activities. We have repeatedly affirmed our commitment to consistently defend the goals and objectives set before us. In particular, one of our most important directions remains the formation of an international legal and political assessment of the genocidal policies pursued by Azerbaijan, as well as holding that country accountable under international law and demanding reparations.

A key issue for us is also the disclosure of war crimes and gross violations of human rights committed by Azerbaijan, their publicization, and contribution to international legal processes based on them. The primary of our vital goals, which has been and remains unchanged, is the restoration of the violated rights of the Armenians of Artsakh and working towards the realization of our inviolable right of return. We will steadfastly continue this work until international return mechanisms are established that will ensure the safe and dignified return of the Armenians of Artsakh to our historical homeland.

The core of our activities is the protection of the fundamental rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, which is an indivisible and paramount value of international law. Our concept is anchored in humanitarian rights and norms of international law, such as the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and a number of other key documents.