"Hay Dat" published a detailed ethnic cleansing case study report

ArmInfo. The Center for International and Comparative Law under the auspices of the Armenian  Legal Center, operating in the "Hay Dat" system, published a detailed report addressing the recent ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, which is due to Azerbaijan's long-standing anti- Armenian discriminatory policy.

As reported by the Central Office of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun "Hay Dat"  Bureau, the report argues that the siege of Artsakh, the military  offensive, and the subsequent forced displacement were not isolated  incidents, but rather the culmination of deeply entrenched  institutional policies against Armenians.  The report distinguishes  between the concepts of "ethnic cleansing" and "genocide", noting  that while genocide is defined as the intent to destroy a group in  whole or in part, ethnic cleansing involves the forcible removal of a  group from a specific area through violence and terror.  "In the case  of Artsakh, the European Parliament and various experts have  classified the events as ethnic cleansing, some extending this  classification to the crime of genocide, due to the harsh conditions  and the threat of systematic extermination," the ARF said in a  statement.

It also noted that the evidence presented in the report shows that  Azerbaijan's policies, including the blockade and military  operations, reflect a deliberate attempt to eradicate the Armenian  presence in Artsakh. "In 2022  the blockade that began in December  created dire conditions, restricting the flow of essential goods and  services, resulting in severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel.  The resulting humanitarian crisis led to widespread malnutrition,  poor health and disruption of education and health services," the ARF  recalled

The report details how Azerbaijani forces targeted agricultural  operations and hindered local food production, exacerbating the  suffering of the Armenian population.

"The military offensive that began in September 2023 exacerbated the  crisis. The report documents how the attack, which began with intense  fighting and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, led to  significant civilian casualties and serious disruptions to evacuation  efforts. Reports of war crimes, including torture and mutilation of  Armenian civilians, highlight the brutality of the attack and the  significance of such actions in the forced displacement of the  Armenian population from Artsakh," the report continues.  The report  also highlights the ongoing destruction of Armenian cultural and  religious sites by Azerbaijani authorities, systematically erasing  Armenian traces. 

"This destruction includes the destruction of churches, historical  monuments and khachkars, as well as the manipulation of the nature of  monuments to eliminate Armenian cultural traces. The report includes  satellite images and documents from organizations such as Caucasus  Heritage Watch, which shows the extent of cultural destruction that  has been condemned by international bodies such as UNESCO and the  European Parliament. The report highlights that this cultural  destruction and the impact of the blockade reflects a broader pattern  of anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijani society," the ARF stated.   Moreover, the report notes that the treatment of Armenians under  Azerbaijani rule, including the politically motivated detention of  Artsakh political leaders and the continued glorification of  anti-Armenian violence, reflects a disregard for international human  rights standards. 

"It emphasizes that the systematic denial of Armenian cultural  identity and the destruction of cultural heritage sites is an  integral part of Azerbaijan's broader strategy to eliminate the  Armenian presence in Artsakh." the report says. 

In the final part, the report calls for international action to  eliminate these violations, emphasizing the need to support the  displaced Armenian population 

It also suggests that the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage,  along with gross human rights violations and institutional  discrimination in Azerbaijan, poses a continuing threat to Artsakh  Armenians and underscores the urgency of international intervention  to prevent further atrocities and support the restoration of Armenian  rights and heritage.  The report is available at the following link:  https://iclaw.am/downloads/Artsakh-Nagorno-Karabakh-A-  Case-Study-in-Ethnic-Cleansing.pdf .