Support for Artsakh Residents Cannot Come at the Expense of Their Dignity: Artsakh NGOs

The Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, Gegham Stepanyan, has published a statement from Artsakh's non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which notably states:

The NGOs of the Republic of Artsakh welcome and express gratitude to 470 European NGOs and federations that have sent letters to the leaders of the European Union and the Council of Europe, urging immediate and effective actions to remove Azerbaijan's ongoing illegal blockade of Artsakh.

We greatly value the call from our European partners to recognize the right to self-determination of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh as a vital necessity. We share the view that all leverage must be used to ensure that the status of Artsakh reflects the democratic will of its indigenous Armenian population and to create conditions for sustainable peace and security.

We are convinced that a lasting dignified and just resolution to the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict must be based on the respect for both the individual and collective rights of the people of Artsakh, including their right to self-determination.

At the same time, we vehemently condemn and find unacceptable the statement made by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, regarding the results of the recent meeting in Brussels, which considered the Aghdam-Stepanakert road as a channel for providing humanitarian aid to the people of Artsakh. We emphasize and remind that support provided to a people in humanitarian crisis cannot come at the expense of their dignity, especially from a country that can offer nothing but hatred, suffering, and pain.

We hope that representatives of the European civil society will be consistent in implementing the actions they have pointed out.

Participating organizations include:
“Promoter of Haik Culture” NGO
“Youth Public Research Center” NGO
“United Armenia” Patriotic NGO
“Equal Opportunity” NGO
“Hadrut De-Occupation” NGO
“Union of Refugee Women” NGO
“Armenian Friends’ Union” NGO
“Youth Union for Justice” NGO
“GEN Initiative Center” NGO
“Motherhood” NGO
“Civil Hub” NGO
“Refugees Union” NGO
“Artsakh Volunteers Union” NGO
“Our Home - Artsakh” NGO
“Faith and Valor Patriotic Union” NGO