In recent weeks and days, various reports, appeals, and statements by NGOs about how Azerbaijan allegedly created by malicious means a “humanitarian crisis”, or “blockade” of the Armenians of Karabakh have become increasingly common in the information space of Georgia. Either a report[1] appears that in Karabakh “because of the lack of food, dogs began to be driven out into the street”, then an ethnic Armenian, but under a French nickname, recalls[2] the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in this regard, finally, at all, several NGOs decide in their statement[3] proceed purely from the narratives spread by only one side.

Of course, it is no secret to anyone that Georgia, naturally, as a good neighbor of both Azerbaijan and Armenia, is interested in the soonest conclusion of a peace treaty between them. This would be the starting point for a completely new situation – not confrontation, but peaceful coexistence and cooperation. Achieving this goal would create a fundamentally more positive atmosphere and serve as a good stimulus for resolving conflicts in Georgia on the same universal basis of restoring territorial integrity and respect for human rights. And in this regard, following our colleagues from a number of Georgian NGOs, we also would like to "extend our solidarity to the population affected by the conflict on all sides. Over the course of 30 years of unresolved conflicts, the civilian population has endured profound and irreversible hardships”.

But, as it seems to us, the members of NGOs in Georgia, which has been suffering from conflicts generated by aggressive separatism inspired from the outside for the same 30 years, should have a good memory. They should not forget that both in the case of the occupied regions of Georgia and in Azerbaijan during the period of occupation, many more Georgians and Azerbaijanis suffered from the conflict than current residents of the separatist regions. For those who, with or without reason, write about an illusory "genocide", it would not be a sin to know that the real genocide was carried out in 1992 against Georgians in Gagra and against Azerbaijanis in Khojaly.

One-sided narratives, promoted in Georgia as well, emphasize that Azerbaijan allegedly violated international norms by establishing border controls on the road from Armenia to Karabakh. But as the Azerbaijani side rightly notes, control over the entire perimeter of the borders is an unconditional prerogative and sovereign right of the state. And uncontrolled entry into its territory through holes in the border fence is a violation of all legal norms. In order to refresh your understanding of this issue, we can advise you to re-read Article 4 of the Law of Georgia on Occupied Territories.

By the way, Armenia tried to challenge the legality of Azerbaijan’s decision to install a border checkpoint on the Lachin road in the International Court of Justice and asked to modify the decision of the Court of February 22, 2023. They demanded that Azerbaijan would be obliged to “withdraw any and all personnel deployed on or along the Lachin Corridor since 23 April 2023 and refrain from deploying any such personnel on or along the Lachin Corridor”. However, in its decision of July 6 this year, the International Court of Justice unanimously rejected the request of Armenia. It was difficult to expect anything else from lawyers because the right to border control is one of the basic rights in relations between states. And its implementation can in no way be considered a restriction of the right of citizens to move.

We are deeply convinced that Azerbaijan's arguments about the abuses that took place in the period up to April 23 of this year also look absolutely adequate. Thus, along the Lachin road, declared a humanitarian corridor, weapons and ammunition, including mines produced in 2021, that is, after the end of the Second Karabakh War in the autumn of 2020, were transported. As a result, since November 2020, 303 Azerbaijanis, including 2 journalists became victims of mine explosions.

Azerbaijan’s demand to ensure the fulfillment of obligations for the complete withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the territory of the Karabakh region which the Prime Minister of Armenia himself has repeatedly recognized in words as part of Azerbaijan is also completely justified.

We think that no one who is open-minded about the issue and has made at least minimal efforts to understand it will have no doubt that the demands to withdraw foreign military personnel illegally deployed on the territory of the state as well as to exercise border control are absolutely legal. Moreover, they are necessary conditions for the normalization of the situation on the ground in the post-conflict period.

Of course, in a difficult period that draws a line under decades of enmity, close attention should be paid to the observance of the humanitarian agenda. But let's figure out who and how creates problems on the way to its implementation. On the one hand, we have outrageous activity when under the noise of the “blockade of Karabakh” and the “unbearable suffering” of the Armenians there, in fact, they are again trying to push through the uncontrolled regime of entry and exit through the Lachin road. Even a whole "humanitarian convoy" was sent to the border, forgetting at the same time to get Azerbaijan's permission for its passage.

This somehow strongly reminded us of the sending of similar “humanitarian convoys” to the Ukrainian Donbass starting in August 2014. Then they gained the actual breach of the border which was protested by Ukraine and condemned by the US and the EU as an act of violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. What happened in those regions of Ukraine where these “humanitarian convoys” went, and what is happening there now is a rhetorical question. Therefore, Azerbaijan's stance on preventing uncontrolled transportation along the Lachin road is not only consistent with the law but also prevents the danger of new armed provocations, which just lead to the suffering of the civilian population. And the position of selective condemnation of such quasi-humanitarian convoys seems unfair and illegal.

On the other hand, if all those who are now so suddenly concerned about the humanitarian needs of the Armenian population of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan really care about ordinary people and do not try to prolong the existence of an island of aggressive separatism, then they should better familiarize themselves with the facts on earth and not distort them. After all, in order to supply the Armenian population of Karabakh with everything necessary, Azerbaijan proposed to use a convenient road from its Aghdam which runs along the flat-hilly terrain with a length of 26 km. And under such circumstances, to insist on using the 93 km long road from the Armenian Goris which passes through mountain serpentines is a clear dissonance. But the leadership of the separatists, who settled in Karabakh, just placed concrete blocks on the road from Aghdam, thereby creating a "blockade from the inside." At the same time, however, they are trying to create a false appearance that they are blocked from the outside.

Of course, Azerbaijan has sufficient strength to deal with its problems on its own. This he successfully proved and continues to prove. But, in our deep conviction, Georgia as the closest neighbor should also act in this matter proceeding from the agenda of reconciliation in the South Caucasus. We believe that in the interests of development and a successful future for all three countries in the region, one should not be led by narratives aimed against territorial integrity, to support pockets of separatism. After all, these cells of separatism became the ulcers from which conflicts flared up, and it brought so much trouble to all the inhabitants of the South Caucasus.

We remember that at the beginning of these conflicts, their instigators also tried to substantiate their claims with fictitious "humanitarian causes" and "violations of rights." As a result, they themselves trampled on all the rights of millions of people who became refugees and IDPs. We believe that Georgian society should be interested in Azerbaijan's successful experience in reintegrating the Armenian population of Karabakh. And for this, it would be good to think thoroughly before being turned into an instrument of one-sided propaganda that torpedoes the goals of reconciliation, reintegration, and future development in favor of the obsolete rhetoric of the conflict.

Georgia-Azerbaijan Relations Development Foundation;

Foundation "Tadzreli";

Georgia-Caucasus Strategic Studies Institute; (GCSSI)

Academy of International Relations and Political Science;

"Victory - Partnership Alliance"

Civil Defense League; (CDL)

Federation of Veterans of Georgia (16 organizations)

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[1] https://netgazeti.ge/news/678043/

[2]https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/765092-lachinis-derepnis-blokada-icvevs-mtiani-qarabagis-mosaxleobis-ganadgurebas

[3]https://socialjustice.org.ge/ka/products/sakartvelos-samokalako-sazogadoeba-mtian-qarabaghshi-shekmnil-humanitarul-kriziss-ekhmianeba