From blockade to war: The ethnic cleansing of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh

Genocide briefing

December 12, 2023

This report was commissioned by the Zovighian Public Office to serve as a public asset for Artsakhi Armenians and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Key findings:

  • At the one-year mark since the erection of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan, ZPO released an open-source intelligence (OSINT) and geolocation report.

  • The analysis proves that the so-called eco-activist protest created harmful and hostile conditions targeting Artsakhi Armenians caused by an obstruction of the Lachin Corridor, constituting a breach of Article 2c of the Genocide Convention.

Keywords: Artsakh Nagorno-Karabakh; Lachin Corridor blockade; Artsakhi Armenians; conflict; humanitarian crisis; genocide; forced displacement; siege; Azerbaijan; Armenia

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Opening letter


Dear reader,


One year ago, Azerbaijan enforced an abominable and illegal blockade on the historic Armenians of Artsakh Nagorno-Karabakh. The entire community was held hostage and forced to live a life of terror and near- starvation for ten months on Azerbaijani terms. Their life in their ancestral homeland ended in September of this year with a decisive forced expulsion of the entire population. They fled into Armenia, escaping dangerous conditions of life that were so harsh and unjust that living under Azerbaijani rule became impossible.


Early into the blockade, the Zovighian Public Office decided to dedicate significant resources and efforts to study this atrocious situation and build what has become a repository of evidence of crimes of genocide. Our objective was to give voice to those under siege, bring agility to international justice by the power of the truth, and hold the Government of Azerbaijan accountable with high quality data.


At this one-year mark since the blockade began, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Genocide Convention when all such violent actions became illegal under international law, we are releasing first-time open-source intelligence and geolocation analysis on the blockade in this comprehensive investigative research report. It shows how Azerbaijan designed and executed the blockade to comprehensively expel Artsakhi Armenians and fully take over Artsakh Nagorno-Karabakh. They did so with a manipulative official information engine that justified every step of genocide. And they succeeded and they were rewarded with a successful bid to host COP29 next year.


Today, Artsakhi Armenians still have so much to lose. Their culture, heritage, and private property are still under siege. Their leaders and citizens are still illegally being held in arbitrary detention. And the blockade continues, for there is no right to return home.

The Zovighian Public Office stands strong by the Armenians of Artsakh Nagorno-Karabakh, and under their leadership, we will continue to address their most urgent and strategic needs.


Respectfully yours, and with much solidarity,

Lynn Zovighian

On behalf of the Zovighian Public Office

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About the Zovighian Public Office

The Zovighian Public Office (ZPO) was established in 2015 to serve communities facing crises and crimes of atrocity. We are dedicated to amplifying their voices through research, advocacy, and diplomacy. We are deeply committed to justice and accountability for the Artsakhi Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.


www.zovighian.org