UK Embassy distances Government from Parliament as Artsakh hearings spotlight cultural destruction and ethnic cleansing

(Horizon Weekly / LONDON) — The British Embassy in Baku has underscored the independence of the UK Parliament following hearings in the House of Commons examining the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh, in a move widely seen as a response to mounting pressure generated by the inquiry.

Commenting on the February 25 parliamentary inquiry titled “Erasing the Past: Destruction of Cultural Heritage,” the embassy stressed that Parliament operates independently from the government and that hearings, debates and inquiries reflect the views of individual MPs or committees — not the official foreign policy of His Majesty’s Government.

At the same time, the embassy reiterated that the United Kingdom recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan as the path to lasting peace.

The clarification came amid heightened attention in Azerbaijan over the Commons hearings, which examined documented cases of Armenian cultural and religious heritage destruction in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) since 2023, as well as possible legal and accountability mechanisms under international law.

A key role was played by the Armenian National Committee of the United Kingdom (ANC-UK), which delivered a formal witness submission during the third session of the inquiry.

The ANC-UK report laid out the legal foundations for the inquiry, citing protections under the 1907 and 1954 Hague Conventions, the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, UN Security Council Resolution 2347, and the Genocide Convention. It argued that the systematic destruction of cultural heritage may constitute evidence of genocidal intent under international jurisprudence.

Andre Vartanian, member of ANC-UK, presented the report, while ANC-UK Chair Annette Moskofian joined him in responding to questions from the parliamentary panel.

In its submission, ANC-UK called on the UK government to increase humanitarian assistance to the forcibly displaced Armenian population of Artsakh; recognize Azerbaijan’s 2023 military offensive — viewed in the context of the blockade and humanitarian law violations — as ethnic cleansing; impose targeted sanctions on Azerbaijani officials responsible; support the right of return of Artsakh Armenians in line with international legal instruments and the International Court of Justice’s interim measures; and advocate for stronger international protection of Armenian cultural heritage, including through UNESCO.

The inquiry also featured testimony from Artak Beglaryan, President of the Artsakh Union and former Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh.

While London’s official policy remains unchanged, the parliamentary inquiry marks a significant development in international scrutiny of Azerbaijan’s actions in Artsakh — and underscores the sustained advocacy efforts of ANC-UK in bringing these concerns to the forefront of British public life.