UN Official Urges International Community to Address Crisis of Forcibly Displaced Armenians of Artsakh

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, Fabián Salvioli, has published a new report, in which he has addressed the ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan in Artsakh and the forced displacement of its Armenian population.

The Human Rights Union of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees presented Salvioli’s report, which was compiled during his visit to Armenia from November 16 to 24, 2023.

In the report, Salvioli noted that his visit coincided with the forced deportation of thousands of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. He noted that he witnessed the pain and urgent needs of the forcibly displaced population.

Salvioli emphasized that access to documents remaining in Nagorno-Karabakh, the protection of relatives’ cemeteries, and the preservation of cultural heritage are urgent issues for Artsakh Armenians.

The UN special rapporteur urged the international community to amplify the voices of forcibly displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh.

He called on the international community and negotiating parties involved in this process to ensure that any discussions or agreements related to Nagorno-Karabakh include the establishment of truth mechanisms, the application of criminal accountability for perpetrators, compensation for damages, the preservation of archives and cultural heritage of displaced populations, as well as guarantees to prevent recurrence.

Salvioli stressed that such mechanisms should be established under international guarantees to ensure the impartiality and trust of all parties and to prevent the recurrence of violence. He called on the international community, reminding them that international standards of transitional justice should be reflected in all discussions and future agreements.

The Human Rights Union of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees welcomed the report and expressed hope that these statements will serve as a foundation for a fair resolution to the process.