UK National Contact Point launches investigations into Chapman Taylor  over construction work in occupied Shushi

ArmInfo. The UK National Contact Point (NCP), a major corporate social responsibility agency and watchdog, has announced the launch of an official review of the British architectural firm Chapman Taylor for human rights violations related to the reconstruction work carried out in Shushi, Artsakh,  occupied by Azerbaijan. This is stated in a message received by  ArmInfo from Kerkonian Dajani LLP.

"The UK National Contact Point considers that the reports provided by  the applicant highlight the seriousness of the human rights situation  in the areas where Chapman Taylor carried out the reconstruction,"  the UK National Contact Point stated in its preliminary assessment  report.

The UK National Contact Point for Responsible Business has accepted a  complaint lodged by Kerkonian Dajani LLP on behalf of the Avan Shushi  Partnership against the redevelopment of the historic town of Shushi  in Nagorno-Karabakh by Chapman Taylor. The complaint alleges that  Chapman Taylor's actions in redeveloping Shushi breached the most  respected global standards of corporate responsibility by worsening  rather than mitigating the negative impact on the human rights of the  indigenous Armenians of Artsakh.  The UK NCP concluded that all of  the OECD Guidelines provisions cited by the complainants merited  further consideration and went further by adding two additional  provisions for consideration - Chapter II, paragraphs 2 and 15.

"Corporate interests play a fundamental role in supporting repressive  regimes that abuse human rights. The OECD process is critical in  reminding multinational actors that their responsibility to respect  international human rights extends far beyond balance sheets and  corporate donations," said Karnig Kerkonian, international lawyer and  co-founder of Kerkonian Dajani LLP.

Having accepted the complaint, the UK NCP agreed to mediate. If the  parties are unable to reach an agreement through mediation, the NCP  will continue its investigation and make a final determination on  whether Chapman Taylor acted in accordance with the OECD Guidelines.

"It is imperative that companies refrain from supporting projects  that contribute to human rights abuses.  Azerbaijan's military  takeover of Shushi and its impact on the displaced Armenians living  in Shushi is deeply troubling," said Alek Baghdasaryan, lead partner  at Avan Shushi.

According to the complaint, Chapman Taylor continued its work in  Shushi despite ongoing human rights abuses. Avan Shushi, which owns  the Avan Shushi Hotel and Tourist Center in Shushi, alleges that  Chapman Taylor was engaged to redevelop Shushi shortly after the  Azerbaijani military took control of the historically Armenian city  in November 2020, and that during its work, Chapman Taylor actively  determined the fate of structures in Shushi, even marking buildings  and homes for demolition.

The complaint was filed by Karnig Kerkonian and Elizabeth Al-Dajani,  co-founders of the international law firm Kerkonian Dajani LLP, and  former associate attorney Ani Nazaryan.