Presented by Anahit Harutyunyan, an operations manager at the Center for Truth and Justice(CFTJ).
Thank you, Mr Chair,
Esteemed members of the ICC Working Group on Amendments,
My name is Anahit Harutyunyan, and I live in Armenia. I thank you for the opportunity to share with you Azerbaijan’s invasion, occupation, and aggression against Armenia and Armenians. I stand before you, not only as an Armenian citizen profoundly concerned about the threats against my country, but also as a member of the CFTJ, an organisation dedicated to documenting war crimes and promoting accountability. I bring you urgent evidence of ongoing aggression against the Republic of Armenia.
Two years have passed since the large-scale Azerbaijani military attacks on Armenia. September 13 and 14, 2022, were a pivotal moment in independent Armenia’s history as it marked the most significant attack on sovereign Armenian territory. Azerbaijani forces attacked military and civilian positions in Vardenis, Goris, Sotk, Jermuk, and other cities with artillery, drones, and heavy weapons. The military offensive into the territory of Armenia took place from the North East, South East, and the Western borders of Armenia. More than 30 towns and villages located in sovereign Armenian territory were attacked, resulting in 7,600 people being displaced, with several hundred deaths, destruction of infrastructure, and the demolition of cities and villages. Azerbaijan used large-calibre weapons such as Grad missiles to target civilian settlements. Following the military offensive, Azerbaijan’s media outlets and its notable politicians called for the occupation of more Armenian land.
