On November 14, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted renowned environmentalist and internationally acclaimed activist Greta Thunberg for a conference titled “The Impact of Azerbaijani Aggression on Human Rights and Environmental Protection”. The event was organized in parallel with COP29 as a response to the United Nations’ decision to designate Azerbaijan as the host of COP29, despite serious concerns over its aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), President Aliyev’s authoritarian policies, and anti-Armenian rhetoric.
The conference addressed the impact of Azerbaijan’s actions on human rights and environmental protection, including war crimes, the blockade of Artsakh, ethnic cleansing, and damage to the environment and cultural heritage.
Siranush Sahakyan, head of the International and Comparative Law Center and representative of Armenian POWs at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), spoke about Armenian captives in Azerbaijan and their repatriation.
“Since the 2020 war, hundreds of Armenians have been captured, with initial data indicating that the number exceeds 300. Through extensive efforts, approximately 210 prisoners have been repatriated. Among them were individuals who had fallen under Azerbaijani control due to border incidents or getting lost in the area. Therefore, the repatriation process is connected not only to wartime captures in 2020 but also to cases of abductions or arrests in peaceful conditions” said Sahakyan.
Discussing the treatment of Armenian captives by Azerbaijan, Sahakyan highlighted instances of degrading treatment.
“Humiliating practices were also employed. For instance, captives were forced to perform actions that violated their convictions or Armenian identity, such as kissing the Azerbaijani flag or making statements against their beliefs about Artsakh. Some cases even involved religious elements, with particular cruelty shown towards individuals possessing Christian symbols or tattoos. Tattoos, for example, often led to burns inflicted on various parts of the body to erase those religious symbols” said Sahakyan
The conference also featured presentations by international law expert Ara Ghazaryan, lawyer Anna Melikyan, Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan, and Siranush Sahakyan.
Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan addressed the blockade of Artsakh, ethnic cleansing, and Azerbaijan’s impunity.
“Organizing COP29 in Azerbaijan following the occupation of Artsakh and the ethnic cleansing of its population is a glaring example of not only the absence of accountability but also a practice of rewarding the perpetrator,” said Stepanyan
At the conclusion of the session, Greta Thunberg delivered a powerful speech:
“We must stop hosting climate conferences in countries like Azerbaijan, which severely oppresses its population,” she stated, condemning Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing, military aggression, and gross human rights violations against the population of Artsakh, including torture, hostage-taking, and widespread violence.
“If we stand for justice, it must mean justice for all,” said Thunberg.