AUA Statement Regarding 2023 Azerbaijani Aggression on Artsakh

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YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) strongly condemns the most recent aggression by Azerbaijan, launched on September 19, 2023, against the indigenous Armenian population in the Republic of Artsakh. In contravention of the November 9, 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement, Azerbaijan initiated its aggression after illegally keeping Artsakh under blockade for almost ten months, depriving the population of nutrition, medicine, gas, electricity, and fuel, and blocking the entry of humanitarian aid. The education of 30,000 children and over 4,000 students was additionally disrupted. 

With its September attack on the civilian population of Artsakh, Azerbaijan effectuated its long-time genocidal policy of eradicating Armenians from their homeland, where they had lived for many millennia. The large-scale onslaught committed by Azerbaijan toward civilians resulted in the mass exodus of the more than 100,000 ethnic Armenian population. Only during the past three weeks, Azerbaijan has committed numerous crimes in relation to the Armenian population of Artsakh, including willful killings, extermination, and forced displacement: these crimes are well defined and punishable under international criminal law.

Continuing their hostilities on the Armenian population, Azerbaijan launched a series of unlawful deprivations of liberty of Artsakh’s high-ranking military and government officials. Those taken captive were unlawfully deprived of liberty on fabricated charges, as was the case with the Armenian citizens seized by Azerbaijan as “prisoners of war” during the 2020 Artsakh War and afterwards. These individuals have been effectively abducted and held hostage by the Azerbaijani authorities, violating absolute requirements of the Geneva Conventions, the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners, and other international standards. We call on the international community to demand the return of our compatriots abducted by Azerbaijan. 

Artsakh has long been and continues to be a symbol of Armenia’s struggle for freedom, independence, self-determination, and democracy. Artsakh has always been a land of Armenian and Christian cultural and historical heritage in the Caucasus. As an institution devoted to the pursuit of truth and the defense of civilization, AUA will never recognize the legitimacy of the Azerbaijani occupation of Artsakh.

AUA stands with the Armenians of Artsakh who withstood unspeakable horrors in defense of their right to live in security and freedom in their native homeland. We are committed to the education of our nation and have launched a number of initiatives in an effort to support forcibly displaced individuals from Artsakh. We believe that the quality education of our youth is our best long-term defense against the continuation of racist aggression and xenophobia, and we will continue to work steadfastly to provide this for our students.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.