The threat of genocide has extended to the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia: Lemkin Institute raises Red Flag Alert

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has issued another Red Flag Alert (highest warning level), given Azerbaijan’s escalating genocidal rhetoric, territorial demands and recent attacks on Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces. 

“Previously we have issued numerous RFAs and SOS Alerts for the Republic of Artsakh, 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 institute’s experts say, noting that Baku is now trying to gain control over an additional eight villages, which, according to Azerbaijan, are “under Armenian occupation”.

“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,” reads the statement.