Serj Tankian and Other Global Celebrities Address Azerbaijan in Open Letter

Serj Tankian, lead vocalist of the world-renowned rock band System of a Down, has published an open letter calling on Azerbaijan to open the Lachin corridor and end the oppression of the people in Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to Armenpress, the letter has been signed by several prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Tom Morello, Stewart Copeland, Rosa Linn, Atom Egoyan, Arsiné Khanjian, Sebu Simonian, and others.

The letter discusses the seven-month blockade of Artsakh, which began on December 12, 2022. "Since that time, the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh have relied on Russian peacekeeping forces and humanitarian aid from the International Red Cross. Azerbaijani soldiers are now blocking the entry of aid convoys, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Essential food supplies are running out in stores. Hospitals face a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies. In February, the UN's top judicial body, the International Court of Justice, ordered Azerbaijan to ensure free movement along the road. Azerbaijan continues to ignore this ruling," the letter states.

Serj Tankian also gave an interview to Spin magazine, noting that all parties, including the U.S. State Department and the European Union, support the unblocking of the corridor and have repeatedly made calls on the issue; however, appeals to the authoritarian regime do not help people survive. "These are just words. There is no action, and that is the problem. Everyone has condemned this, but no one is doing anything," Tankian said, adding that he has tried to contact the U.S. Agency for International Development, which could provide food supplies by airplane.

Tankian also acknowledges that the issue is complicated by Russia's military actions in Ukraine and the strong ties between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. According to the musician, news about Ukraine is read daily in the media, but many are unaware of what is happening in Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, Tankian reminds us that Azerbaijan's authoritarian leader has also seized certain areas from the territory of Armenia itself, approximately 150 square kilometers.

"As the international community, we are hypocritical because we cannot sacrifice one country at the expense of another. That is not right," Tankian stated.