A conference held on September 18 in the French National Assembly addressed the issue of protecting the rights of forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh, marking two years since the mass displacement. The initiative was led by Member of Parliament Emmanuel Mandon, Vice President of the France-Armenia Friendship Group, according to the "Artsakh Union."
The event brought together parliamentarians from France, Switzerland, Belgium, and the European Parliament, as well as diplomats, academics, experts, journalists, and senior representatives of local governments. Participants reaffirmed their readiness to support the right of return for forcibly displaced people from Artsakh.
The first part of the forum focused on ongoing geopolitical shifts in the South Caucasus and their impact on the people of Artsakh. Participants stressed that the lack of accountability for forced displacement endangers the international legal order. Both French and European lawmakers pledged not to allow the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Artsakh to fade into obscurity and vowed to continue pressuring their governments to take practical steps in support of international law.
The second segment emphasized the role of parliamentary diplomacy. Speakers underscored the need to strengthen ties between European parliaments and the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, both to maintain the right of return as a priority in foreign policy and to demand the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and political detainees.
Special attention was given to the France-Artsakh Friendship Initiative, which has launched a petition campaign among French lawmakers in support of the return of forcibly displaced Artsakh residents and the release of Armenian detainees held in Baku.
The event concluded with remarks by Hovhannes Gevorgyan, the representative of Artsakh in France, who expressed gratitude to the participants and urged continued support: “Politics is a powerful force capable of changing reality through decisive action. I urge you to be courageous in pursuing justice over violence.”
On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive against Artsakh, subjecting the region to intense shelling. On September 20, the Artsakh authorities agreed to a ceasefire proposed by the Russian peacekeeping command, accepting Baku's terms, including the disarmament of the Artsakh Defense Army and the dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh. Forced displacement began on September 24, with over 100,000 people fleeing to Armenia. As of late 2023, only about 20 Armenians reportedly remained in Artsakh. On September 28, Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree dissolving the republic, effective January 1, 2024.
