BEIRUT, LEBANON, Febuary 2, 2023 — An emergency humanitarian briefing examining the inhumane and irrefutable blockade of Artsakh was released on February 2, 2023 by The Zovighian Public Office. The brief, titled “Mothers under siege in Artsakh call out genocide and defy blockade of 120,000 Armenians,” documents the needs and challenges facing Artsakhi mothers under blockade. 

Co-authored by independent journalist Siranush Sargysan and Co-founder and Managing Director of The Zovighian Partnership Lynn Zovighian, this brief sheds a human light on the crisis in Artsakh with its growing markers of a possible genocide. The report highlights the risks of a humanitarian catastrophe as the blockade of Artsakh enters its 53rd day: “Newborns and young children are at severe risk of malnourishment, and soon, starvation if international emergency aid is not activated soon.”

Artsakhi mothers describe key threats of ethnic cleansing under the significant physical and mental pressures of insecurity and uncertainty, amid electricity and gas disruption, and growing shortage of food, medicine, and vital supplies. “Families in Artsakh are feeling terrorized. Many are wondering if making life unlivable is meant to force impossible terms and conditions to drive out the indigenous Armenian Christian population,” highlights the brief. 

Mothers are calling upon the international community to take concrete steps to unblock Artsakh and respond to their urgent humanitarian needs. As one mother explains: “Artsakh is under the threat of genocide today, but we, Armenians, hope in any case that the international community will take concrete steps to unblock Artsakh and give us status.”

The co-authors conclude the brief by emphasizing the importance of speaking up against the blockade: “These mothers know all too well that this crisis, with its growing markers of a possible genocide, must not be kept in the dark.”

"There has never been a more critical time and urgent need for a transparent, independent, and objective international response effort that can be trusted by all,” wrote Zovighian in reference to why she chose to publish an open letter and not limit her critiques to private meetings with UN stakeholders.

“I have sent a personal email in good faith to the Resident Coordinator at the UN Azerbaijan and the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General,” said Lynn Zovighian. “I hope we will be able to constructively look into a safer and more impactful fact-finding approach with the United Nations for future missions.”