RE:PUBLIC PRESS

16 Swiss Parliament Members Request Executive Action on Karabakh Armenians’ Return Pro-Armenian member of the Swiss Federal Assembly, Erich Vontobel, along with 15 other MPs, submitted a written request to Switzerland’s executive branch on Thursday. The request concerns the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh and the restoration of their rights. On September 23, the Swiss executive branch is required to address the following questions from the parliamentary rostrum: • Does Switzerland recognize the right of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to return to their homeland and exercise their right to self-determination there? • At COP29, does the Swiss delegation plan to raise the issue of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and the right of return for its inhabitants? @REPUBLICPRESS

The former and current Ombudsmen of Artsakh have filed a complaint to the ICC Prosecutor against Azerbaijan on charges of crimes against humanity In association with the Tufenkian Foundation and the Association de soutien à l'Artsakh, international leading lawyers François Zimeray and Catalina de la Sota are representing Artak Beglaryan and Gegham Stepanyan. It is stressed in the complaint that they had experienced deprivations of food and health care following a nine-month blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh which began in December 2022. That was followed by a lightning invasion by Azerbaijan’s military on September 19th, 2023, and a forced displacement of the population from the territory. Several other leaders and residents who were unable to flee Nagorno-Karabakh were arrested by the Azerbaijani authorities and have since been detained, subjected to torture and ill-treatment and denied proper access to their families and lawyers. For their lawyers François Zimeray and Catalina de la Sota, “Nothing justifies the forcible uprooting of men, women and children from their home and land. The world must say no to this political bestiality. This is what is at stake in the complaint we are filing.” The complaint, known formally as a “communication”, was filed in accordance with Article 15 of the Rome Statute establishing the court, under which the Prosecutor may open an investigation in light of information brought to his attention. For the lawyers "the deportation of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh bears all the hallmarks of a crime against humanity. It was the forcible displacement of persons from the area in which they were lawfully present, as part of a widespread attack against the civilian population with full knowledge of it. All the conditions are present to ensure that those responsible are held accountable before international criminal justice.” @REPUBLICPRESS

Bipartisan Bill Proposed by Adam Schiff to Confiscate Azerbaijani Assets U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff has introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at confiscating Azerbaijani assets and transferring them to a recovery fund for Nagorno-Karabakh residents. “Azerbaijan’s continued actions against the people of Artsakh have created a humanitarian disaster and amounted to ethnic cleansing,” said Rep. Schiff. “We must ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that the innocent victims of Artsakh are compensated for their immense losses. My legislation will provide a mechanism for justice and financial restitution for those who have lost everything due to Azerbaijan’s aggression, Schiff said. @REPUBLICPRESS

French Ambassador: The right of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to return is enshrined by the International Court of Justice French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies, referring to Azerbaijan's military aggression against Artsakh and the subsequent anniversary of the eviction of Armenians, noted that the right of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to return was enshrined by the International Court of Justice. “A year ago, on September 19, 2023, after nine months of blockade by Azerbaijan, the brutal assault began that led to the forced exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. Their right of return has been enshrined by the International Court of Justice,” Decottignies said on X. @REPUBLICPRESS

The Day of military aggression against Artsakh has been declared a holiday in Azerbaijan. The President of this country, Ilham Aliyev, ordered to celebrate this day as the Day of Azerbaijan's Sovereignty. It will be celebrated on September 20th: @REPUBLICPRESS

Pashinyan Demonstrates Deep Hatred Towards Ruben Vardanyan: Metaxe Hakobyan The leadership of Armenia is taking no steps to secure the return of captives; on the contrary, they are doing everything to ensure that the captives will never have the chance to return, at least while they remain in power. This was stated today, September 19, at the Yerablur Pantheon by Metaxe Hakobyan, a member of the "Justice" faction of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, during a conversation with journalists. She reminded that, in addition to eight representatives of Artsakh's military-political leadership, other Armenian captives and hostages are being held in Baku's prisons: "It turns out that these eight individuals will not return, and no one is addressing the issue of the others. This matter is not even on their agenda." Referring to Nikol Pashinyan's statement about former state minister of Artsakh, Ruben Vardanyan, who is currently in captivity, in which he questioned how Vardanyan, a Russian citizen, ended up in Artsakh, who sent him to Nagorno-Karabakh, and for what purpose, with what guarantees, assurances, and promises, Hakobyan said: "These Pashinyan's words about Ruben Vardanyan were a demonstration of deep hatred for the individual, as well as the incompetence of the leader." According to her, this is not the first time Pashinyan has sent a message to Baku and the international community that Armenia is absolutely not interested, has no purpose and does not even want these people to return from there. She noted that today there are various structures that raise the issue of the return of prisoners on different platforms. "We receive feedback that what is happening is illegal from the point of view of law, however, if the authorities do not take any steps, the solution to this issue seems very vague," Metaxe Hakobyan said. @REPUBLICPRESS

Painful Statements on Artsakh: Samvel Shahramanyan's Response With pain, I hear the statements of the authorities who believe that the recognition of Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan is a victory — Samvel Shahramanyan This day will forever remain in our memory as the day when, after a 10-month blockade and a 4-month total siege, the Azerbaijani side resorted to military aggression, resulting in casualties and injuries. This was stated by the President of Artsakh, Samvel Shahramanyan, in a conversation with journalists at "Yerablur." "Today we paid tribute to our martyrs, to those who gave their lives defending our homeland and their families. As a result of the military actions, our population was forced to leave their homeland, and we will always remember the names of those selfless people who, at the cost of their lives, defended our homeland and gave more than one hundred thousand people the opportunity to escape the blockade," emphasized the president. Regarding the statements from the Armenian authorities, the President of Artsakh noted that he hears such statements with pain. "I hear such remarks with pain, even from high-ranking officials, who believe that we, the people of Artsakh, are guests in Armenia, and that recognizing Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan is a victory for Armenia. I have serious doubts that all members of the Armenian government and the people of Armenia think this way. I have nothing to say to these individuals; they must answer to the citizens who elected them to power," he emphasized. @REPUBLICPRESS

One Year Since the Azerbaijani Attack on Artsakh This day marks the first anniversary of the Azerbaijani attack and the forced deportation of Armenians from Artsakh. A year ago today, following a nine-month blockade, Azerbaijani military aggression resulted in the deaths of over 200 people, including 181 military personnel, with 15 individuals still missing. According to official data, 23 Armenians are currently held in Azerbaijani prisons, 8 of whom belong to the military and political leadership of Artsakh. 120,000 Armenians were forcibly deported from its native land. Relatives of soldiers who died in the September battles and were buried in Artsakh are requesting the government to transport their remains to Armenia. @REPUBLICPRESS

Kremlin does not agree with Armenia PM's assessment of CSTO Moscow does not agree with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding his assessment of the CSTO. That organization does not pose threats to Armenia, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters, responding to TASS' question. "It’s about the issues that concern the sovereign rights of Armenia. Armenia itself chooses the strategic, tactical ways of development. But at the same time, of course, we must categorically disagree with Mr. Pashinyan," the Kremlin spox noted. "No danger, no threat to the sovereignty of Armenia can be and is posed from the CSTO. On the contrary, that organization stands in the position of protecting the sovereignty of the member states." @REPUBLICPRESS

Armenia’s Prime Minister: The Point of No Return in Relations with CSTO is Approaching We froze our participation not only because the CSTO is failing to fulfill its defense obligations towards Armenia but also because, in our opinion, the CSTO poses threats to Armenia’s security, existence, sovereignty, and statehood. We will resume our participation only when specific answers are provided to the raised concerns. Two years have passed since then, and not only have the answers not been given, but it has also become clear that they will not be. The longer these delays and the more unconvincing the responses, the greater the likelihood that, with each passing second, we are approaching the point of no return, and no one will have the legitimate right to blame us for it, stated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Second Armenian World Summit. @REPUBLICPRESS