UN Special Rapporteur Calls on International Community to Address Forced Displacement from Nagorno-Karabakh

NEW YORK — The UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, Fabián Salvioli, has addressed the ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh and the forcible displacement of its people.

The Human Rights Union of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees presented Salvioli’s report during his visit to Armenia from November 16 to 24, 2023.

In his report, Salvioli noted that his visit coincided with the forced deportation of thousands of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. He witnessed firsthand the pain and urgent needs of the forcibly displaced population.

Salvioli emphasized that critical issues for Artsakh Armenians include access to documents left in Nagorno-Karabakh, protection of relatives’ cemeteries, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

The UN Special Rapporteur urged the international community to amplify the voices of those forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. He called on both the international community and the negotiating parties involved in this process to ensure that any discussions or agreements related to Nagorno-Karabakh include mechanisms for establishing truth, holding perpetrators criminally accountable, providing compensation for damages, preserving archives and cultural heritage, and guaranteeing the prevention of future violence.

Salvioli stressed that such mechanisms should be established under international guarantees to ensure the impartiality and trust of all parties and to prevent the recurrence of violence. He urged the international community to reflect international standards of transitional justice in all discussions and future agreements.

The Human Rights Union of Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees welcomes the UN Special Rapporteur’s report on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence. The Union hopes these statements will serve as a foundation for a fair resolution to the ongoing process.