Artsakh Union COP29 Germany Armenia Azerbaijan
07.08.2025 - 18:04:07Advertising Campaign Launched During Bonn Climate Change Conference Challenges Azerbaijan to Prove Commitment to COP of Peace Claims by Releasing Armenian Political Prisoners
Juan Mendez, the United Nations' first Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide reviewed these actions, solemnly confirming that "genocide has been committed against ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, but the danger of more suffering of this kind is by no means over. The international community still bears a responsibility to act to protect this population from further harm."
The United Nations' International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Azerbaijan to uphold the right of return for ethnic Armenians, instructing the country to "take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration affecting Armenian cultural heritage, including but not limited to churches and other places of worship, monuments, landmarks, cemeteries and artifacts" following its invasion last year. Despite these orders, recent satellite images show destruction of Armenian cultural heritage sites and residential buildings, prompting widespread concerns.
Pressure continues to grow on Azerbaijan from the international community in the lead up to COP29, otherwise known as the Conference of the Parties, which will be held this November in Baku. In a April resolution, the EU reaffirmed that "the ongoing human rights violations in Azerbaijan are incompatible with the country's preparations to host COP29." U.S. senators have also called for the release of Armenian political leaders held in Azerbaijan, with several members of congress sending a follow-up letter raising concerns in mid-May. French senators have also put forth resolutions proposing sanctions against Azerbaijan for its actions in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Bonn Climate Change Conference, which started on June 3, has driven additional backlash against the Azeri government, including from the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, which published a statement criticizing Azerbaijan for touting a "COP of Peace" while carrying out genocidal actions.
Today, Azerbaijan sits below Saudi Arabia and Iran in Freedom House's annual Freedom of the World report, currently scoring just 7 out of 100 points. The country also ranks 164th out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders' 2024 Press Freedom Index, worse than Venezuela and Turkey.
See the full-page advertisement on page 19 of POLITICO Europe's print edition published on June 6.
Media Contact
Artak Beglaryan, Artsakh Union
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