Artak Beglaryan's Response to Trump's Sharing of Aliyev's Video

The President of the Artsakh Union, Artak Beglaryan, has commented in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social, where he shared a clip of a speech by Azerbaijan's genocidal dictator, Ilham Aliyev.

In his response, he stated: "Mr. President,
With deep respect, I must express my sorrow and concern regarding your decision to share a video featuring Ilham Aliyev, one of the most criminal and authoritarian leaders of our times.
Please consider the following important facts: Aliyev has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the indigenous Christian Armenian people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), resulting in the forced displacement of over 100,000 people in September 2023. This process has been widely recognized as ethnic cleansing.

On October 23, 2024, you personally referred to these actions as 'ethnic cleansing' and 'forced displacement,' promising to take steps to address the repercussions. Given these words, who could be the perpetrator of these crimes, if not the very person whose video you are now sharing?

Aliyev tortures Armenian civilians and prisoners of war solely for their national and religious identities, as documented by international independent organizations. These are not political allegations but documented human rights violations. By Aliyev's orders, numerous Armenian churches and cultural monuments have been destroyed, desecrated, or distorted, aiming to erase the centuries-old Christian Armenian heritage of the region.

Aliyev has publicly called on Azerbaijani youth to hate Armenians, constructed a brutal 'warrior’s park' mocking fallen Armenian soldiers, and systematically sows hatred in schools and the public discourse. His troops have not only occupied Artsakh but have also invaded the sovereign territory of Armenia, openly threatening new aggression against a peaceful and democratic neighbor. On October 26, 2020, Aliyev promised your administration a ceasefire, only to grossly violate it mere hours later, undermining your peace efforts during an election period.
The speech you have shared was delivered in the occupied Shushi, one of the holiest and historic Armenian cities in Artsakh. For decades, U.S. legislators and administrations have recognized the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, including in Shushi.
Mr. President,
As a victim of Aliyev's genocidal actions and as a voice for my displaced people, I respectfully urge you: do not legitimize a dictator who has inflicted immeasurable suffering and destruction on an ancient Christian nation. Instead, we ask you to remain true to your words by helping to stop the violence and ethnic cleansing. Our people continue to hope that the United States and especially you will stand with justice, freedom, and truth.

We ask for your support in the following areas:
1. The safe, dignified, and sustainable return of our people to our homeland,
2. The protection of our endangered religious and cultural heritage,
3. The release of Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan’s prisons,
4. The cessation of state-sponsored anti-Armenian hate and fascist propaganda in Azerbaijan.
Please do not allow the 'peace' rhetoric of a dictator to overshadow the real and ongoing tragedy of our people."