Baku Seeks to Force Artsakh Armenians to Despair, Le Monde

Le Monde has published an editorial titled "The Blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan Must End." Unlike journalistic articles published in the same periodical, an editorial represents the collective stance of the publication regarding the subject matter and is typically published without attributing to a specific author under the editorial name, usually on the front page. This article is translated by Armenpress:

“The blockade of Artsakh, the only corridor connecting it to Armenia, and the use of hunger as a weapon against thousands of Armenians is not only a colossal political error but also, above all, a challenge to the most fundamental rules of international law. After the Azerbaijani president decided to subject Artsakh to a blockade reminiscent of past eras, each passing day increases the danger of a humanitarian disaster. Three years after the victory over the Armenian forces, Ilham Aliyev appears determined to amplify his success, facilitated by the passivity of Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in Artsakh following a ceasefire obtained under Moscow’s auspices.

Internationally recognized under Azerbaijani sovereignty, yet predominantly populated by Armenians and enjoying de facto autonomy, Artsakh has not experienced a peaceful period since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The recapture of buffer zones and part of the enclave by Baku in 2020, at the cost of thousands of lives on both sides, did not lead to a ‘brave peace’; on the contrary, it exacerbated tensions. The only road still connecting Artsakh to Armenia, the Lachin corridor, has been the focus of escalating tension since December 2022. After officially installing barriers under the pretext of security, Ilham Aliyev’s regime decided in June to hermetically seal this road, including to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the last international humanitarian organization allowed access to the enclave.

More than 100,000 Armenians live under these difficult conditions in Artsakh (a figure disputed by Azerbaijan). Without any sense of guilt, using hunger and, among other things, deprivation of medical supplies as a weapon, Baku seeks to force the Armenians of Artsakh to turn to it in desperation. Rather than seeking a difficult path of coexistence in this land marked by conflict, the Baku regime offers the Armenians of Artsakh an impossible deal: unconditional submission (while hatred towards Armenians prevails in Azerbaijan) or exile.

The inflexible stance adopted by Azerbaijan’s president is a colossal political error, leading to an increase in hatred rather than its reduction. The blockade of Artsakh primarily challenges the fundamental rules of international law. By remaining silent in the face of the warnings issued by the International Court of Justice in February, Ilham Aliyev subjects himself to serious charges.

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