Members of the European Parliament called the exodus of Armenians from Karabakh ethnic cleansing

The European Parliament compared the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with ethnic cleansing and called for sanctions against Baku. This should from the resolution, the adoption of which was voted for by 491 deputies.

Nine deputies opposed, 36 abstained. “As more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians have been forced to flee the enclave following the latest offensive, MEPs say the current situation amounts to ethnic cleansing and strongly condemn the threats and violence committed by Azerbaijani forces against the Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh,” it said.

The parliament called Azerbaijan’s actions “pre-planned and unjustified” and called for a review of relations with the republic.

“They [депутаты] “also call on the EU and member states to immediately offer all necessary assistance to Armenia to cope with the influx of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh and the subsequent humanitarian crisis,” the press service noted.

On September 19, Azerbaijan began military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh. The next day, Karabakh authorities announced the conclusion of agreements on a complete ceasefire. After negotiations, the authorities of the unrecognized republic agreed to surrender their weapons under the control of Russian peacekeepers.

On September 28, the president of the unrecognized republic, Samvel Shahramanyan, signed a decree on the termination of its existence from 2024 and the dissolution of all state institutions and organizations.

Later Armenia filed a claim to the International Court of Justice against Azerbaijan in a case of alleged discrimination in Nagorno-Karabakh. Yerevan, in particular, demanded that Baku refrain from violating the convention, actions that would lead to the displacement of the remaining ethnic Armenians from Karabakh.

As the Russian Foreign Ministry stated, the European Union betrayed Armenia. Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova notedthat the EU does not provide “any stability or de-escalation” in Armenia, but is engaged in “intelligence monitoring in the interests of Brussels” and provoking the situation.