The April 2016 Aggression Became a 'Litmus Test' for International Response

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh has issued a statement in connection with the 6th anniversary of Azerbaijan's unleashed aggression in April:

“Six years ago, on the night of April 1-2, 2016, the armed forces of Azerbaijan, in violation of the agreements on the complete cessation of hostilities of May 12, 1994, and the reinforcement of the ceasefire regime of February 6, 1995, maliciously attacked the Republic of Artsakh. Over the course of four days, the Azerbaijani army attempted assaults along the entire front line with Artsakh using heavy military equipment, artillery, and aviation. However, suffering significant losses in personnel and equipment and failing to achieve their goals, the Azerbaijani side was forced to halt military operations, mediated by the Russian Federation. Nevertheless, the targeting of border communities in Artsakh continued until the end of April.

Azerbaijan's aggression was accompanied by numerous war crimes, including torture, premeditated killings, and desecration of bodies against both Artsakh's military personnel and the civilian population. The April 2016 aggression became a 'litmus test', including for gauging the international community's reaction to Azerbaijan's violations of the UN Charter and international obligations. The fact that these illegal actions did not result in any serious political or legal consequences for Baku further reinforced the confidence of the Azerbaijani authorities that anything is permissible, and that might prevails over international law.

Both the April 2016 war and Azerbaijan's 44-day aggression in 2020, despite their local nature, became a real test for the entire system of international relations. The impunity for unleashing aggressive wars has led to the erosion of fundamental principles of international law, such as the non-use of force, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the good-faith fulfillment of international obligations, among others.

Considering that the Azerbaijani authorities refuse to engage in peaceful negotiations regarding the resolution of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, continue to violate their obligations, and have not ceased aggressive operations, we expect the international community to take concrete political actions that guarantee the realization of the collective rights and human freedoms of the people of Artsakh without any restrictions.”