Armenian Christians have been facing unprecedented persecution from Azerbaijan, with reports indicating that they are being strangled and driven from their homes. The situation is dire, and urgent action is required to save this endangered population from being further oppressed and eventually forced out of their homes.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region is home to thousands of Armenian Christians living there for generations. However, the recent conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia has turned their lives upside down. Azerbaijan has been accused of conducting a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Armenian population, with reports of widespread human rights violations, including torture, rape, and murder.
Despite these atrocities, the international community largely ignored the Armenian Christians living in Nagorno-Karabakh. They have been unable to make their voices heard in the US Congress, the EU Parliament, or the UN. This lack of attention has left them vulnerable to continued persecution and violence.
The situation has become so dire that people in Armenia have been dropping off dry food in front of the UN building in Yerevan, demanding that it be delivered to the Lachin corridor. The Lachin corridor is a vital link between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, and it has been blockaded by Azerbaijan, leaving the Armenian Christians living in the region without access to food and basic necessities.
The international community must take immediate action to address this crisis. The US, in particular, must exert all the pressure and influence it has to save this endangered population. The US is morally obligated to stand up for these Armenian Christians’ human rights and use its diplomatic and economic power to support their cause.
In this regard, Ambassador Sam Brownback's words carry a special weight, given his previous role as the US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. As a champion of human rights and religious freedom, Brownback has been a vocal advocate for persecuted minority communities around the world. His call to action on behalf of the Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh underscores the situation’s urgency and the need for immediate and decisive action from the US government.
The US government must work with its allies in Europe and worldwide to put pressure on Azerbaijan to end its campaign of ethnic cleansing. This could include targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses and economic sanctions on industries supporting the Azerbaijani government.
In addition to diplomatic and economic measures, the US must provide humanitarian assistance to the Armenian Christians living in Nagorno-Karabakh. This could include food and medical supplies and support for NGOs working on the ground to provide aid to those in need.
At the same time, the US must work to raise awareness of the plight of the Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh. The international community must be made aware of the human rights violations that are taking place and must be encouraged to take action to address the crisis.
The situation for Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh is dire, and urgent action is required to address the crisis. The US, in particular, is morally obligated to stand up for these Christians’ human rights and use its diplomatic and economic power to support their cause. By working with its allies in Europe and around the world, the US can help to end the persecution of Armenian Christians and ensure that they can live in peace and security in their ancestral homeland.