Azerbaijan Continues Its Aggressions, Refusing to Return Prisoners of War: Armen Grigoryan

In the autumn, Azerbaijan, with the direct support and involvement of Turkey and armed militants from Syria and Libya, launched a large-scale aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in thousands of casualties, tens of thousands of injuries, and displacements, causing material losses and damaging infrastructure, stated Acting Foreign Minister Armen Grigoryan at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council.

He noted that several regions of Nagorno-Karabakh, seized through the use of force, have undergone ethnic cleansing, and the population has become victims of war crimes and mass atrocities. “Azerbaijan used force to suppress the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, violating the UN Charter, which clearly states that all international disputes must be resolved peacefully,” Grigoryan emphasized.

“During the 44 days of attack, the Azerbaijani army committed gross violations of international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law, deliberately and systematically targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly schools, hospitals, maternity hospitals, means of communication, as well as vandalizing and destroying Armenian cultural and religious heritage.”

To date, Azerbaijan continues its aggressions by refusing to return captured Armenian soldiers, making territorial claims, and attempting to seize the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia while blocking international humanitarian efforts from entering Artsakh,” the Acting Foreign Minister stated.

Armen Grigoryan emphasized that these provocations require a proper response from the international community. “Humanitarian missions, especially the UN’s access to Nagorno-Karabakh, must be ensured quickly and unconditionally. Additional international efforts are necessary to promote the format of the OSCE Minsk Group and continue discussions on a lasting political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” he said.