The Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Convenes in Yerevan

From October 18 to 20, the Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno Karabakh convened in full in Yerevan. The Committee held meetings with Samvel Shahramanyan, President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, members of the National Assembly of Nagorno Karabakh, the head of the Diocese of Artsakh, and His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, during which updates on ongoing efforts and future plans were shared.

During the three-day session, the Committee emphasized the significance of its work to date and expressed satisfaction that the issue of the safe, dignified, and collective return of the people of Nagorno Karabakh has been raised, discussed, and affirmed in international circles. This includes statements by various countries, international organizations, and resolutions from European institutions. These developments set the foundation for the next phase of the Committee’s work, focusing on consolidating progress and striving to establish an international negotiation format to address the right of return.

The Committee also mapped out its plans for the next six months, which include preserving Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh, safeguarding public and private property, securing the return of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages unlawfully held in Baku, and addressing other critical issues related to the defense of the rights of the people of Nagorno Karabakh.

As part of these efforts, a roundtable discussion was organized by the Committee and the ‘Hayakve’ initiative. The discussion focused on the need for coordinated action on these issues and included over forty representatives from political, social, diplomatic, and analytical circles of Armenia and Artsakh. The Committee reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with all interested organizations and individuals in pursuit of these objectives.

The Committee for the Defense of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Artsakh was established and authorized by a decision of the Artsakh Parliament on December 2, 2023.

October 22, 2024.