News - Lemkin Institute: Genocide threat has spread to sovereign territory of Armenia

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has issued a red flag alert (RFA)—the highest warning—for the third time, given Azerbaijan's escalating rhetoric and demands on Armenia, as well as its recent attacks on Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces. " Previously we have issued numerous RFAs and SOS Alerts for the Republic of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], which was occupied and depopulated by Azerbaijan on September 19, 2023. Now, as anticipated in our previous publications, the threat of genocide has extended to the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia itself. Azerbaijan appears to be pursuing a strategy of gradual occupation of Armenian sovereign territory," the Lemkin Institute experts note, in particular, emphasizing that Azerbaijan is now seeking control over an additional “eight villages under Armenian occupation” in the Tavush Province. "Its goal is the control of the entirety of the Armenian state and the unification of the Azerbaijani mainland with Türkiye, which views Azerbaijan as part of an expansive Turkic nation. By claiming control over strategic points across Armenia, Azerbaijan further appears to be modeling its policy on the Israeli settlements in Palestine. The danger to Armenia has become severe, necessitating immediate and coordinated attention from the international community. Urgent action is imperative to prevent another instance of territorial occupation and genocide akin to what occurred in Artsakh just six months ago," the statement added, in particular.