On March 2, 2022, the Partnership for Open Society Initiative, representing more than 60 civil society organizations, and Transparency International Anticorruption Center organized a public discussion titled Armenophobia in Azerbaijan and the Danger of Ethnic Cleansing.
The public discussion was attended by the representatives of the RA Government, the Prosecutor General’s office, the office of the Security Council, the office of the Human Rights Defender, the Permanent Representation of Artsakh in the Republic of Armenia, Embassies accredited in the Republic of Armenia, international and civil society organizations
The purpose of the discussion was to present to the Armenian state bodies, international organizations and non-governmental organizations the manifestations of Armenophobia and racism in Azerbaijan, the situation in Artsakh, being in danger of ethnic cleansing and to demand all structures to participate in the prevention of these situations by presenting them at international arena.
David Amiryan, the Deputy Director for Open Society Foundations-Armenia, member of the Partnership for Open Society Initiative, welcomed the participants and opened the discussion stating that civil society has a clear mission to monitor various issues, voice them, and cooperate with the state and international organizations to find solutions to problems raised. “Civil society organizations try to use their tools, knowledge and experience to raise the issue of the violated rights of the people of Armenia and Artsakh in all possible structures to support the restoration of those rights. “Our event is an opportunity to voice about these issues,” noted David Amiryan.
The representative of the RA on International Legal Affairs Yeghishe Kirakosyan stressed in his speech that the topic of discussion is key for all Armenians. “Hatred towards Armenia in Azerbaijan has had a progressive growth, at least in the last decade. We, unfortunately, have witnessed its devastating consequences. The results of such hate speech are war crimes, crimes against humanity, gross violations of international humanitarian law,” emphasized Mr. Kirakosyan.
According to him, the main goal of Azerbaijan’s policy is to maintain the atmosphere of anti-Armenianism in the country, to deny the historical presence of ethnic Armenians in the region. Kirakosyan added that in order to oppose Baku’s anti-Armenian policy, Armenia has initiated international legal processes, and such discussions benefit the steps taken by the state.
The RA Human Rights Defender Kristine Grigoryan stressed the importance of combining the forces and efforts of the human rights community and civil society organizations in the protection of human rights. According to the Defender, the anti-Armenian policy pursued by Azerbaijan has a systemic nature, which was manifested both during the Soviet years and after the independence of Azerbaijan.
According to Kristine Grigoryan, the 44-day war in 2020 was accompanied by a propaganda of hostility and hatred towards Armenians by Azerbaijan, and after the war that propaganda received extreme manifestations. “The propaganda of ongoing hatred towards Armenians and state policy is a closed chain, which is generated by the highest state bodies of Azerbaijan, then widely encouraged by cultural and public figures, receiving public praise, often targeting even children,” she said.
TIAC Executive Director Sona Ayvazyan made a concluding speech, noting that Azerbaijan uses corruption as a strategy to have a favorable position in international relations. There are various revealed cases when a number of pro-Azerbaijani decisions were made in the PACE as a result of Azerbaijani bribery, the so-called “caviar diplomacy”. Unfortunately, however, in light of these revelations, it is not mentioned that the bribed deputies turned a blind eye to the possible Artsakh war. In the context of the above mentioned, the international partners were constrained to express tough positions. According to Ayvazyan, the countries and structures that are advocates of human rights and democracy must end the double standards, putting a false sign of equality between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The full video coverage of the public discussion is available here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uCLG8qb8uk