Armenia Accuses Azerbaijan of Ethnic Cleansing in International Court

On Tuesday, Armenia urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold Azerbaijan responsible for the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh area, according to a Reuters report. "After years of threats, Azerbaijan has now fulfilled its ethnic cleansing agenda in the region and is actively removing any evidence of Armenian presence," said Armenian delegate Yeghishe Kirakosyan on the second day of hearings at the UN's top court.

As reported by Reuters, the complaint was initially filed with the ICJ in 2021. Armenia's allegations against Azerbaijan included the celebration of racism against Armenians, the promotion of hate speech, and the demolition of Armenian cultural landmarks. Yerevan claimed that Baku had breached the UN convention against discrimination. Azerbaijan has refuted these claims.

On Monday, Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov defended before the court that Armenia's grievances primarily pertain to armed disputes over Nagorno-Karabakh and are beyond the jurisdiction of the anti-discrimination agreement. Mammadov also stated that Yerevan had not made a genuine effort to pursue negotiations before taking legal action. Yeghishe Kirakosyan dismissed these claims, asserting, "Armenia engaged in negotiations with Azerbaijan sincerely, extending discussions well beyond what was useful."

The dispute is embedded in a prolonged conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani forces regained control of the region in the previous September, displacing the native population.

In November, the court-mandated Azerbaijan to facilitate the return of ethnic Armenians. Azerbaijan insists it is committed to the safety of all inhabitants, without discrimination based on nationality or ethnicity, and argues that it hasn't forced Armenians to vacate Karabakh.

Source: Reuters