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The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) Executive Board strongly condemns Azerbaijan’s invasion of the Republic of Armenia and the ongoing aggression against the Armenian people in the republic and in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in a statement issued on Monday. It also expresses concern about the risk of genocide against the Armenian population of Artsakh.

On 13 September, Azerbaijan launched a massive attack on the sovereign territory of Armenia, shelling the cities and towns of Vardenis, Goris, Ishkanasar, Kapan, Sotk, Artanish, and Jermuk and the surrounding villages. The attack resulted in over 210 confirmed deaths of Armenian soldiers and numerous civilian deaths and injuries.

"While a tenuous ceasefire still holds, Azerbaijan’s violence continues, including allegations of executions of Armenian prisoners of war. Over 7,000 civilians have been displaced, and civilian homes and local infrastructure destroyed in an attempt to ethnically cleanse Armenians from a large portion of the Republic of Armenia," IAGS said.

"In order to remove the risk of genocide, the International Association of Genocide Scholars Executive Board calls upon:

• The international community and academic and cultural organizations to condemn violence and hate speech by Azerbaijan against Armenia and take all necessary measures to compel Azerbaijan to cease hostilities and hate speech against the Republic of Armenia and the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh.

• Azerbaijan to comply with the International Court of Justice Provisional Measures order of 7 December 2021.

• Azerbaijan to remove its soldiers from the territory of the Armenian Republic and to respect the right of self-determination of the Armenians of Artsakh as guaranteed under the United Nations Charter (Chapter I, Article 2).

• The international community to hold the authoritarian regime of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accountable for the crime of aggression (crimes against peace), war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated against Armenia and Armenians since September 2020," reads the statement.