Azerbaijan May Launch Military Aggressions Against Armenia Soon, Tim Loughton

Tim Loughton, a Member of Parliament from the United Kingdom and president of the UK-Armenia Friendship Group, has noted that Azerbaijan has carried out ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, calling on the UK government to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan. According to Armenpress, Loughton made this statement during a discussion in the UK Parliament titled 'International Support for Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.'

"In this House and the other place, we have spoken extensively about the issues facing Armenians. I introduced a bill recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and we have discussed the issues surrounding the blockade of the Lachin corridor. Yesterday, we had a chilling and sobering briefing with Armenia's former Human Rights Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan. He informed us about the latest threats to Armenia and the timeline of events in Nagorno-Karabakh over the past year," Loughton stated.

He recalled that on September 19 of last year, Azerbaijan began a large-scale attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, displacing Armenians from the homes they had inhabited for generations.

"They, as we heard yesterday, have blocked escape routes from the territory and taken several military and political prisoners, specifically identified individuals. They have captured former Nagorno-Karabakh Presidents Arkadi Ghukasian, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, who remain in captivity. Among the other prisoners of war are Ruben Vardanyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Davit Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan. What was the result of all this? To be frank, it was large-scale ethnic cleansing. Before the war in 2020, the population of Nagorno-Karabakh was 160,000. Women, the elderly, and ill individuals were evacuated during the initial bombings, and many have never returned since the ceasefire in November 2020. Many ill persons and some students fled Nagorno-Karabakh during the blockade. It is estimated that 105,000 Armenians left Nagorno-Karabakh after the attacks in September 2023, in chaotic conditions, on blocked roads," Loughton elaborated.

He emphasized that Azerbaijan is trying to erase the name, culture, history, and heritage of a people that has lived in the region for centuries.

Loughton turned to Leo Docherty, the UK Minister for European Affairs present at the discussion, emphasizing that they have humanitarian obligations and long-standing relationships with Armenia and the Armenian diaspora worldwide and in the UK.

"Will the government investigate whether ethnic cleansing has taken place under UN definitions? If yes, what will be the consequences? Will the government demand an investigation into the treatment of political prisoners and captives in Azerbaijan who are still held by Azerbaijanis? What will the government do to exert pressure on Azerbaijan to withdraw from Armenian sovereign territory? As we have heard, there is a great alarm that they may conduct further military aggressions against clear, sovereign Armenian territory soon. There must be consequences for these abuses of international law. Sanctions should be imposed. I believe the UK has a role in any peacekeeping efforts that can be used to secure Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia's borders, as this is a very fragile situation. We have a duty of care here. One of the responsibilities of this House is to inform the world about these ethnic cleansings and this enormous humanitarian crisis," Loughton stated.