The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted the resolution “Humanitarian situation in Artsakh” and a recommendation of the same name.

This was stated by the head of the delegation of the National Assembly of Eastern Armenia Ruben Rubinyan.

“The resolution condemns Baku’s military actions against Artsakh

September 19, 2023.

The Assembly records that almost the entire population of Artsakh left their homeland due to the threat of physical destruction and the long-standing anti-Armenian policy of the Baku government.

The Assembly records that there are reasonable suspicions of ethnic cleansing.

The Assembly notes that carrying out ethnic cleansing as a war crime or a crime against humanity may entail individual criminal liability.

The Assembly refers to the fact that more than 100,600 Armenians have left Artsakh in the last two weeks and records the reasons for this: military actions launched by Baku on September 19, 2023, the crisis caused by the blockade of the Berdzor corridor.

The Assembly is deeply convinced that the tragic exodus of the population of Artsakh should not be perceived as a new reality.

As a member state of the Council of Europe, Baku must remain faithful to the core values of the organization and demonstrate its readiness to fulfill its international obligations.

The Assembly expects that both Armenia and Baku will respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the inviolability of borders based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.

The Assembly calls for the opening of regional channels based on the sovereignty, territorial integrity of countries and within the framework of national jurisdiction.

In this context, the Assembly emphasizes that a possible connection with Nakhijevan cannot be started against the will of Armenia and to the detriment of the national interests of Armenia.

The Assembly demands that the Secretary General and the Committee of Ministers organize as soon as possible a visit by a Council of Europe fact-finding mission, the purpose of which will be to carry out an on-the-ground assessment and determine the measures that need to be taken to protect the rights of local Armenians, including those found refuge outside the country, ensure the safety of all returnees who want to return.

Welcomes the fact-finding mission of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Migration and Refugees to Armenia to assess the assistance to be provided by the Organization in the current situation.

The Assembly notes that it will carefully monitor the measures taken by the Baku authorities and the implementation of their international obligations.