Nagorno-Karabakh Designates September 19 as 'Day of Forced Deportation and Rights Claims'

Nagorno-Karabakh Establishes Commemorative Day

The National Assembly of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, also known as Artsakh, has officially designated September 19 as the 'Day of Forced Deportation and Rights Claims'. This declaration aims to commemorate the events of September 19, 2023, when a large-scale Azerbaijani military offensive resulted in the displacement of nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population from the region.

Context of the 2023 Offensive and Exodus

The decision by the Nagorno-Karabakh National Assembly comes two years after Azerbaijan launched a significant military operation against the self-declared republic on September 19, 2023. This offensive followed a nine-month blockade of the region, which had severely impacted the local population by causing scarcities of essential supplies. The military action, which lasted approximately 24 hours, concluded with a ceasefire agreement on September 20, 2023, leading to the surrender of Artsakh's forces.

In the aftermath of the offensive, a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh began on September 24, 2023. By the end of September and early October 2023, over 100,000 ethnic Armenians, representing approximately 99% of the region's population, had fled to Armenia. This rapid and extensive displacement has been characterized by Armenian officials and some international experts as 'ethnic cleansing'. The offensive also resulted in significant casualties, with official figures reporting 223 deaths, including 20 civilians and six children, and 11 individuals remaining missing.

Significance and Future Claims

The newly established commemorative day serves as a solemn remembrance of the victims and the profound loss experienced by the Armenian community. The 'Rights Claims' aspect of the declaration underscores the ongoing efforts to address the consequences of the forced displacement, including the potential right of return for the displaced population and the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the region. The events of 2023 also led to the announcement of the dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh by January 1, 2024.