ANC UK Newsletter

Artsakh Edition

January 2023

The situation on the ground in Artsakh:

It has now been over a month since Azerbaijan launched its illegal blockade of the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor – the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the rest of the world. The blockade disrupts access to essential goods and services and prevents the entire population of Artsakh from freedom of movement.

• The humanitarian crisis caused by Azerbaijan’s inhumane policy of ethnic cleansing continues to worsen since our last newsletter. The entire 120,000 population of Artsakh remains isolated from the world. This is an organised act of terror that can only be described as a crime against humanity.
  • Kindergartens, pre-schools and other educational institutions suspended their operation due to food supply shortages earlier this week;
  • A coupon system has been implemented in Artsakh to ration goods, food, and petrol;
  • There are very low medical supplies and there is a shortage of hygiene products;
  • Nappies and baby formula have finished
  • The only high-voltage electricity line was damaged, resulting in blackouts. The Azerbaijanis are not allowing any repairs to be carried out.
  • Artsakh lost its internet connection because of another damage to internet cables.
  • Thousands of people are stranded as families remain torn apart with parents and children unable to return home to their loved ones;
  • Over 350 patients are unable to receive critical medical treatments.

Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh is a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020 as it prevents the safe movement of persons, vehicles and goods along the Berdzor (Lachin) Corridor. The blockade also constitutes a violation of the basic human rights of Artsakh’s peaceful population.  

It is imperative that we in the diaspora remain united and focused on our national priorities and tackle this issue in a coordinated manner. The Artsakh population needs our help.

How can YOU help?

Here are some things you can do: (click on the relevant links)

1. Follow ANC UK’s action alerts and updates and proactively encourage friends, family and community members to do the same and send the emails/alerts. Write to your MP.
2. Continue to raise awareness regarding the 120,000 Armenians held hostage in Artsakh, always emphasising the people’s right to self-determination.
3. Volunteer with ANC UK.
4. Donate below:

Steps ANC UK has taken since the start of the blockade:

ANC UK continually advocates for Artsakh against Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor.

As always, we would like to express how grateful we are to our concerned MPs and Peers who have bombarded the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) with their questions, and shown their support for people of Artsakh.

Here are some of the activities we have coordinated during the last 30 days and some behind-the-scenes work which we would like to share with you: 

1. 13 December 2022: ANC UK issued a statement condemning Azerbaijan on the illegal blockade of the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor. To read the full statement please click here;

2. 13 December 2022: ANC UK sent a letter to James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs), urging the UK government to use its influence on Azerbaijan to open the Berdzor corridor, sanction Azerbaijan, send humanitarian aid to the Artsakh population and to recognise Artsakh. To read the full letter please click here;

3. 13 December 2022: Baroness Cox, member of the House of Lords, sent an urgent letter to the Foreign Secretary regarding Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh. The letter from Baroness Cox and Dr John Eibner was co-signed by the Christian Solidarity International. To read the full letter please click here;

4. 14 December 2022: Tim Loughton MP, Chair of the APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) for Armenia, issued a statement to the Foreign Secretary on behalf of the APPG for Armenia regarding Azerbaijan’s attempt at genocide and ethnic cleansing through the blocking of the Berdzor corridor. To read the full statement please click here;

5. 16 December 2022: Chris Law MP, Vice Chair of the APPG for Armenia, wrote to the Foreign Secretary in respect of the Berdzor corridor, asking for rapid action. To read the full statement, please click here;

6. 18 December 2022: Jessica Morden MP, Vic -Chair of APPG for Armenia, wrote to the Foreign Secretary condemning Azerbaijani action. To read her full statement, please click here;

7. 19^th of December 2022, Christian Solidarity International and Baroness Cox issued a very important report: “Genocide Warning for the indigenous population of Artsakh” and concluded that “All 14 risk factors for atrocity crimes identified by the UN Secretary-General’s Office on Genocide Prevention are now present,” This was signed by various other organisations. You can read the report here. And here: https://www.genocidewarning-nk.com/

8. 20 December 2022: ANC UK Chair Annette Moskofian had a meeting with Andy Bailey, the newly appointed Director of the APPG for Prevention of Genocide;

9. Cooperation with other Armenian communities in the UK:
   1. ANC UK participated in a united community campaign against Azerbaijani aggression led by the Armenian Community Council.
   2. ANC UK co-wrote a statement and a letter issued by all Armenian community organisations and addressed to the Foreign Secretary;
   3. ANC UK participated in the community protest organised by the Armenian Youth Federation and the Armenian Community Council in front of the BBC urging it to stop the silence in respect of the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh;

10. A large number of MPs and Peers have raised the issue of Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh, including Tim Loughton, Baroness Cox, Lord Alton, Lord McInness, Stephen Doughty, Chris Law, Alex Sobel, Jessica Morden and Fiona Bruce. They have asked for urgent humanitarian aid for Armenians of Artsakh, queried what steps the UK Government has taken in respect of the crisis and urged for the UK Government to urgently put pressure to bring the blockade to an end.

11. 29 December 2022: Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, a human rights advocate, author and co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response wrote an article on Forbes titled “With the Lachin blockade, Nagorno-Karabakh close to a humanitarian catastrophe”. To read the full article, please click here;

12. 3 January 2023: A Joint Press Release was published on Azerbaijan’s recent attacks against the media blackout in the UK in terms of coverage of Artsakh’s blockade. The Release is from Baroness Cox, Tim Loughton MP, Lord Alton, Christopher Cocksworth (Bishop of Coventry), Rowan Williams (former Bishop of Canterbury) and Dr. John Eibner (Christian Solidarity International). To read the full Joint Press Release, please click here;

13. 6 January 2023: We collaborated with Peter Oborne for his article in Byline Times by providing a briefing, connecting him with ANC Artsakh and his subsequent interview with Ruben Vardanyan, State Minister of Artsakh. Oborne’s article is titled “The cynical pact between Russia and the UK over Azerbaijan’s aggression towards Armenia” and you can read it here;

14. 9 January 2023: ANC UK wrote a letter to the Foreign Secretary seeking clarification in respect of the UK’s role in the failure of the UN Security Council to issue a statement on the blockade of Artsakh;

15. 13 January 2023: Baroness Cox and her team wrote to Alicia Kearns, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, urging for:

1. The launch of an inquiry into the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) security situation.
2. Presentation of a report of the consequent findings to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office as a matter of urgency, and
3. A Meeting with members of the Armenian diaspora for the assessment of the truth behind Azerbaijan’s campaign of misinformation.

We thank Baroness Cox and her team for tirelessly advocating for Artsakh and for their dedication to the people of Artsakh. You can read the full letter here.

Baroness Cox has also sent further questions to the FCDO regarding the death of a patient in Artsakh due to a lack of medical treatment and the reduction of essential supplies for civilians in Artsakh as a result of the Azerbaijani blockade;
You can read the full letter here.

16. In addition, ANC UK has:

1. Sent weekly briefings and updates (Six briefings in total at the time of writing) to parliamentarians, the press and to other organisations regarding the blockade of the Berdzor corridor;
2. Spoken to various journalists regarding the Artsakh blockade;
3. Sent updates to the FCDO and the Shadow Minister for Europe regarding the blockade;
4. Posted daily social media posts updating our followers on the situation in Artsakh and on our activities in the UK; and
5. Hosted a dinner for the APPG officers and the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United Kingdom Varuzhan Nersesyan.

How can YOU help?

Write to your MP!

We have drafted a template letter for you so that it is easier than ever to write to your MP to alert them of Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh! The whole process should take no more than 30 seconds.

Please click here to write to your MP now!