Early afternoon on September 19, Azerbaijan launched their final attempt to wipe out the indigenous Armenian population of the Republic of Artsakh (Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh). The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) vehemently condemns Azerbaijan’s inhumane institutional behaviour and calls upon the international community to stand up if this century does not want to witness the completion of a genocide. 

Azerbaijan’s belligerency is taking place amidst a blockade that Azerbaijan has been isolating Artsakh for over nine months since December 2022. The Lachin corridor is the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the rest of the globe. As a result of this crippling blockade, humanitarian goods such as food, medical supplies, and other essential items have been repressed from entering into Artsakh. Azerbaijan decided to pursue their genocidal policies while imposing a progressing humanitarian catastrophe. Azerbaijan has been continuing to disregard its international obligations, repeatedly violating the Trilateral Statement of November 9 2020, as well as the orders from the International Court of Justice and calls from prominent international organizations and leaders, such as the UN Secretary-General, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch,  UN experts.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijani Armed Forces have grossly violated international human rights law where they targeted every area of civilian settlements, including a highly offensive attack on Artsakh Republic’s capital city of Stepanakert and its surrounding regions including Askeran, Martuni, and Martakert. A minimum of 200 fatalities and over 400 wounded individuals in Artsakh have been confirmed. Within the civilian population, there are over 40 injured individuals, including 13 children, with 10 confirmed civilian deaths at this time, including 5 children.

For almost a year, Azerbaijan has besieged Artsakh as a part of their anti-Armenian operation to ethnically cleanse the population and occupy their indigenous homes. Azerbaijan’s goal is to eradicate the starving and defenseless Armenian population who only want to live peacefully on their ancestral soil.

IUSY strongly believes that the failure of the international community is responsible for enabling the ongoing blockade and emboldened Azerbaijan’s ultimate move to eliminate the indigenous Armenian population of the Republic of Artsakh. 

IUSY demands the international community to: 

• Put an absolute stop on Azerbaijan’s plan and prevent another genocide of the Armenian population of the Republic of Artsakh.
• Take every diplomatic effort to recognize the fundamental right to self-determination of the Armenian population of the Republic of Artsakh.
• End the illegal blockade of the Republic of Artsakh.
• Impose targeted sanctions on the political and military leadership of Azerbaijan.
• Allow access of international and humanitarian organizations into the Republic of Artsakh.
• Form an international peacekeeping mission to have an international presence of the United Nations in the Republic of Artsakh to guarantee the security of its population.

IUSY stands firmly with the Armenian population of the Republic of Artsakh and their brave and ongoing fight for self-determination. All peoples have the unequivocal right to live freely and safely on their homeland. It is the obligation of the international community to stand with the people’s right to their own sovereignty. The world must put an end to this silence in order to ensure that this violence will never be repeated.