Speaker of the Artsakh Parliament Ashot Danielyan sent an open letter to US Vice President J.D. Vance.
“Your Excellency,
I am writing to you as the Speaker of the Parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) to highlight a grave humanitarian injustice and an urgent political responsibility.
In September 2023, the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh was forcibly displaced from their homeland. This was not a humanitarian evacuation or voluntary resettlement, but a predictable and deliberate consequence of a prolonged blockade, coercion, and systematic intimidation, carried out in the complete absence of credible international protection. In a matter of days, an indigenous people with centuries-old roots in the region were uprooted from their homeland.
Today, over 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 permanent return to Nagorno-Karabakh under internationally guaranteed conditions of security, dignity, and self-determination.
Any attempt to present the current situation as a basis for peace is an illusion. Peace imposed by force, demographic transformation, and the displacement of an entire people cannot be sustainable or just. Achieving lasting peace in the South Caucasus requires accountability for grave violations of international law, restoration of the rights of displaced populations, and clear mechanisms to ensure their voluntary and safe return.
Recent events in Baku are no less alarming. Former political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh have been 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 unlawfully held, any rhetoric about reconciliation or peace is empty. Their immediate and unconditional release is urgently needed.
The uncertain fate of those missing as a result of the conflict is a matter of deep and ongoing concern. This is a purely humanitarian issue, directly affecting the fundamental right of families to know about their loved ones. In this context, we believe it is crucial to actively engage with you and international institutions to establish and implement transparent and effective mechanisms to clarify the fate of missing persons.
The United States has a long history of defending human rights, international law, and the principle that borders and peace cannot be changed 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 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Failure to address this injustice risks setting a dangerous precedent: that ethnic cleansing can be rewarded with a political settlement. On the contrary, resolving this issue would send a powerful message that, to be lasting, peace must be based on justice, law, and human dignity.
Sincerely,
Ashot Danielyan
Speaker of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Parliament