Any attempt to present current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict  zone as basis for peace is illusion - Artsakh NA speaker to U.S.  vice-president 

ArmInfo.  Speaker of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Parliament Ashot Danielyan sent an open letter to US Vice President J.D. Vance to draw attention to the grave humanitarian injustice and urgent political responsibility following Azerbaijan's violent seizure of Artsakh.

"In September 2023, the entire Armenian population of  Nagorno-Karabakh was forcibly displaced from their homeland. This was  not a humanitarian evacuation or a voluntary departure, but a  predictable and deliberate consequence of a prolonged blockade,  coercion, and systematic intimidation, carried out in the complete  absence of reliable international protection. In a matter of days,  the region's centuries-old indigenous population was uprooted from  its homeland.

Today, more than one hundred and fifty thousand Armenians live in  exile, deprived of their homes, their cultural and religious  heritage, and their fundamental right to live safely on their land.  Despite the deep wounds of ethnic cleansing, their demand remains  clear and unanimous: the right to safe and lasting return to  Nagorno-Karabakh under conditions guaranteed by international law, in  terms of security, dignity, and self-determination," Danielyan said  in his letter.

At the same time, the head of the Artsakh parliament emphasized that  any attempt to present the current situation as a basis for peace is  an illusion. According to him, a peace imposed by force, demographic  shifts, and the displacement of an entire people cannot be  sustainable or just.

"Long-term peace in the South Caucasus requires accountability for  gross violations of international law, the restoration of the rights  of displaced persons, and the creation of clear mechanisms allowing  them to return voluntarily and safely. Recent events in Baku are  equally alarming. Former political and military leaders of  Nagorno-Karabakh were sentenced to life imprisonment in trials that  fall far short of even the most basic standards of due process. These  politically motivated trials are not justice, but revenge. As long as  Armenian hostages are illegally held, any rhetoric about  reconciliation or peace is empty. Their immediate and unconditional  release is urgently needed," Danielyan continued.

He further emphasized that the uncertain fate of those missing as a  result of the conflict remains a source of deep and ongoing concern.  The head of the Artsakh parliament emphasized that this is a purely  humanitarian issue, directly affecting families' fundamental right to  information about their loved ones. "In this context, we consider it  crucial that you and international organizations actively participate  in the creation and functioning of transparent and effective  mechanisms to clarify the fate of missing persons. The United States  has historically been a defender of human rights, international law,  and the principle that borders and peace cannot be redrawn by force.  Therefore, we urge you to go beyond expressions of concern and  actively support international measures that will ensure  accountability, protect displaced populations, and allow the safe  return of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh," Danielyan continued.

According to him, failure to address this injustice risks setting a  dangerous precedent: ethnic cleansing could be rewarded with a  political settlement. "On the contrary, resolving this issue will  send a powerful signal that, to be lasting, peace must be based on  justice, law, and human dignity," Danielyan concluded.

As a reminder, Vance will be in Yerevan on February 9-10, after which  he will travel to Baku for meetings on February 10-11. The Armenian  government announced that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will meet  with the US Vice President this evening, after which they will make  press statements. It should be noted that the exact number of  Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is  still unknown. Experts estimate the number to be several hundred.  Today, the Azerbaijani authorities confirmed the presence of 19  Armenians in their custody. On February 5, a Baku puppet court  sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, David Babayan, David Ishkhanyan, David  Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment on trumped-up  charges, while Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan were sentenced to  20 years in prison. The so-called court sentenced the remaining  Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in prison.  The verdict has not  yet been announced for philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, whose case has  been separated into separate proceedings.

According to the latest data from the International Committee of the  Red Cross, as of August 2024, approximately 1,000 people are still  missing on the Armenian side, with approximately 300 of these  individuals reported missing following the latest escalation in the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone between the fall of 2020 and the fall  of 2023. All data was collected by the ICRC based on requests from  relatives of missing persons. The ICRC also reported that among these  300, there are several dozen requests concerning cases where the  family disagreed with the DNA data provided by the state.