Missing Nagorno-Karabakh Woman Found Dead, Tortured
01/16/2021 Nagorno-Karabakh (International Christian Concern) – Local media reports that on January 13, relatives identified the body of 58-year-old Alvard Tovmasyan, found dead in the yard of her home in Karin Tak, a village of Nagorno-Karabakh (
Armenian: Artsakh). Relatives left the village on October 29, while Tovmasyan stayed behind. Azeri forces later captured the village and following the ceasefire agreement she was reported missing.
When Tovmasyan’s body was discovered, it had been mutilated nearly beyond recognition. Her brother Samvel only recognized her by her clothing. Relatives also reported that Tomasyan’s feet, hands and ears had been cut off as part of her torture. These types of atrocities are reminiscent of those committed during previous pogroms and genocides against the Armenian Christian community.
Azerbaijan Rewriting Narrative of Nagorno-Karabakh
01/10/2021 Nagorno-Karabakh (International Christian Concern) – Azerbaijani state media appear to have increased their production of English-language articles dedicated to how their country will “revive” Nagorno-Karabakh (
Armenian: Artsakh). The President established a Karabakh Revival Fund for the so-called benefit of “liberated” territory. Different articles in Azeri press describe various kinds of infrastructure developments intended to bring “big profits” to Azerbaijan.
When reading Azeri press, it is important to recognize that their international press freedom index ranking is quite low and stands at 168. Press freedom and religious freedom are entangled within the context of analyzing the challenges facing Nagorno-Karabakh following the Turkish-backed Azeri invasion of the territory. Azerbaijan is attempting to rewrite the narrative not only of the area’s Christian history, but also why and how their gove
Azerbaijan Ignores UNESCO Request
12/23/2020 Nagorno-Karabakh (International Christian Concern) – UNESCO has released a statement that they have made proposals to organize a mission into Nagorno-Karabakh (
Armenian: Artsakh), something which requires the agreement of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The purpose of this mission is to create an inventory of significant cultural properties so that they can be protected following the conflict initiated by Azerbaijan into Nagorno-Karabakh. However, UNESCO states that they cannot begin this mission since Azerbaijan has failed to respond to the request.
Nagorno-Karabakh is historically Armenian Christian, and those cultural sites referred to by UNESCO are churches, monasteries, khachkars, and other similar sites of significance to Christianity. Azerbaijan’s invasion into Nagorno-Karabakh was supported by Turkey and included destruction of many of these sites. It is vital that a full documentation of their status is performed so that th
Press and Religious Freedom Entangled in Nagorno-Karabakh
12/19/2020 Nagorno-Karabakh (International Christian Concern) – Azerbaijani media outlets have published a number of articles reporting that over 12,000 Azerbaijanis will be resettled in Stepanakert. This city is located in Nagorno-Karabakh (
Armenian: Artsakh), a territory recently captured by Azerbaijan and Turkey as part of their attempt to accomplish pan-Islamic Turkism by eliminating the local Armenian Christian population. The Spokesperson for the President of Artsakh has claimed that these Azerbaijani media reports are false and part of a disinformation campaign intended to disorient and divide the Armenian community.
These types of tactics are documented by ICC’s joint report
Beheaded Armenian Christians Identified
12/16/2020 Nagorno-Karabakh (International Christian Concern) – Two elderly Armenian Christian men beheaded by Azerbaijani armed forces have been identified. They were residents in the villages of Madatashen and Azokh in Nagorno-Karabakh (
Armenian: Artsakh).
The first victim was named Genadi Petrosyan, was 69 years old, and was from Madatshen. He escaped Azerbaijan to Nagorno-Karabakh in the late 1980s, a decision that corresponded with Armenian pogroms in Azerbaijan during the late 1980s/early 1990s. The second victim was named Yuri Asryan, who was 82 years old and was from Azokh. Both men were civilians.
Hundreds of videos have emerged of violent war crimes committed by Azerbaijani armed forces against the Armenian community. These crimes bear a striking resemblance to tactics used during the 1915 genocide against Armenian Christians. Indeed, Turkey (who supports Azerbaijan during this conflict and who was the main instigator of