The disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh became a hotspot of military activities earlier this week when troops from Azerbaijan launched a military operation there. This move by Azerbaijan has sparked humanitarian concerns globally, especially from the notable International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) . Although Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally acknowledged as part of Azerbaijan, the region is also home to the Armenian-aligned breakaway state of Artsakh.
The military intervention came in response to allegations that Armenian forces had planted a landmine that supposedly killed two Azerbaijani civilians. The accusation was announced via
a tweet on Tuesday. In addition to launching “local antiterrorist activities,” the president of Azerbaijan issued a
statement calling for Armenian military formations to “raise the white flag” and dissolve the “illegal regime.”
On the other hand, Armenia hit back accusing Azerbaijan of shelling civilian positions while denying the presence of any Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. Meanwhile, the ICRC, deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation due to the escalating tensions, has called for military authorities to respect and protect civilian life and infrastructure.
The European Union has called for a ceasefire, and Azerbaijan has invited Armenian separatists in Karabakh to talks provided they lay down their arms. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken labeled the military action “unacceptable” and advocated for dialogue over hostilities.
In a related incident, former International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo released a
legal opinion earlier this month claiming that genocide is being committed against ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. The claims were challenged by Rodney Dixon, a UK barrister, who after analysis suggested that “the international community should focus on mediation efforts, not genocide claims”.
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