Artsakh's Human Rights Defender Discusses Issues with OSCE Chairperson

On April 1, Gegham Stepanyan, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh, met in Yerevan with Zbigniew Rau, the current Chairperson of the OSCE and the Foreign Minister of Poland. This was reported by the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh.

The Defender presented the coordinated and systematically executed ethnic cleansing policy carried out by Azerbaijan, which aims to dispossess the people of Artsakh, as well as the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in the occupied territories and manifestations of vandalism. He also addressed the illegal trials against Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, as well as other violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.

Gegham Stepanyan highlighted the humanitarian situation in Artsakh and the extensive violations of the rights of the Artsakh people resulting from Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian policies, pointing out the recent deliberate disruptions of gas supply and issues arisen due to Azerbaijan's military aggression.

The Defender expressed regret over the lack of clear and targeted responses from the OSCE to the ongoing violations of fundamental human rights and international law principles, emphasizing that in the current situation, the international community should act not only as a mediator but also as a guarantor of the rights of the people of Artsakh.

Gegham Stepanyan noted that recent developments indicate that effective protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in Artsakh necessitates a prompt and comprehensive resolution of the conflict and a determination of the status of Artsakh based on the free expression of the will and self-determination of its people.