Socialist International adopts resolution on Artsakh, highlights urgent human rights concerns

(Horizon Weekly) —The Socialist International (SI) has formally adopted a resolution on the situation in and around Artsakh, reaffirming key human rights principles and calling for immediate steps to address the ongoing consequences of the 2020 war and the September 19, 2023 ethnic cleansing.

The resolution was adopted on November 30 at the SI Council meeting in Malta, hosted by the country’s ruling Partit Laburista. Armenia was represented by Mario Nalbandian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), who participated in the Council session, the organization’s Financial and Administrative Committee, and, in his capacity as SI Vice President, the Presidium and the official dinner.

The Malta gathering brought together senior officials from across the globe, including Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who also serves as President of the Socialist International. Discussions centered on the SI’s role in safeguarding stability and peace amid deepening global uncertainty.

Nalbandian Highlights Genocide Prevention Failures and Baku’s “Unacceptable and Fabricated” Trials

Addressing the Council, Nalbandian delivered a forceful intervention on global human rights backsliding, the erosion of multilateral institutions, and the urgent need for accountability in cases of mass atrocity.

“This era is filled with uncertainties and new challenges. Multiculturalism has become a target, the United Nations is under coordinated attack, and even the Human Rights Council has become a primary target of these assaults,” Nalbandian said.

He emphasized that despite the international community’s pledge that the twenty first century must be free of genocide, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Prevention of Genocide has already warned that genocidal processes continue in Myanmar, Sudan, Ethiopia, Artsakh, Gaza, and Israel. “To this day, no perpetrator has been held accountable,” he stressed.

Nalbandian also delivered a sharp critique of the closed trials now underway in Baku against Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives. “These are unacceptable and fabricated ‘Baku trials,’ conducted without the minimum guarantees of international law, without observers, without independent media, and in disregard of the rulings of the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the European Parliament,” he said, noting that twenty three Armenian detainees—including ARF leader David Ishkhanyan—remain imprisoned, while the fate of others is still unknown.

“By remembering them today, we make their struggle visible and remind the world that their cause remains alive and awaiting justice,” Nalbandian concluded.

Key Points of the Socialist International Resolution

The resolution adopted by the Socialist International outlines several urgent requirements for any just and lasting peace in Artsakh:

• Guaranteed right of return: Ensuring the voluntary, safe, dignified, and internationally guaranteed return of all persons displaced after the 2020 war and the 2023 Azerbaijani assault.

• Immediate release of detainees: Calling for the release of the twenty three Armenians imprisoned in Baku, including David Ishkhanyan, and demanding transparency in the politically motivated trials underway in the Baku Military Court.

• Protection of Armenian cultural heritage: Condemning the destruction and alteration of Armenian religious and cultural sites in Artsakh and calling for measures to safeguard the region’s historical heritage.

The resolution stresses that a genuine settlement cannot be achieved through military means, and that any sustainable peace must be rooted in justice, human rights, and the dignity of all peoples.

ARF’s Longstanding Presence in the Socialist International

The Socialist International currently brings together 132 political parties and organizations across more than 100 countries. ARF-affiliated structures are full members of Socialist International Women (SIW) and the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY), ensuring consistent Armenian engagement in global social democratic and human rights platforms.

The ANC-International office issued a statement (in Armenian) welcoming the adoption of the resolution and reaffirming the party’s commitment to advancing the rights of Artsakh Armenians on the international stage.