The European Parliament recently adopted a resolution in support of Nagorno-Karabakh, simultaneously condemning Azerbaijan’s aggression towards the region. The resolution also demanded that the European Union impose sanctions on Azerbaijani officials who were accountable for the attacks that resulted in multiple human rights violations.
The resolution thoroughly evaluated the ongoing situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, especially focusing on the humanitarian repercussions of Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, the destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the treatment of Armenian prisoners of war consequent to the 2020 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The dispute, long-standing and deeply rooted, reached a tipping point on September 19 when Azerbaijan commenced a military operation to assert control over Nagorno-Karabakh, an internationally acknowledged Azerbaijani territory where ethnic Armenians have populated for centuries. With over 100,000 ethnic Armenians taking flight in recent days, Human Rights Watch has called upon Azerbaijani authorities to put significant measures into place that will facilitate the Armenians’ right to return.
The European Parliament utterly denounced the conflict, which was marked as a severe violation of international law and a distinct breach of earlier attempts to secure a ceasefire. In addition, they called for investigations into potential war crimes committed by Azerbaijani forces.
Further, the European Parliament sanctioned an amendment to discontinue purchasing gas from Azerbaijan in response to their government’s attacks. The Greens/EFA group within the European Parliament hailed this decision, asserting that it sends a clear message: transgressing international law, ceasefire agreements, and human rights bears consequences.
The resolution passed with a total of 491 votes in favor, 9 against, and 36 abstentions.
More details on this topic can be found in the original article at Jurist.