Film director, producer and actor Mel Gibson has blasted the world media’s “silence” over what he describes as Azerbaijan’s “genocide” of Artsakh Armenians, saying that history is repeating itself as the world watches.
In a video shared by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Gibson said that countless Armenians are presently suffering “unspeakable horrors” and find themselves targeted after years of persecution for their faith.
Mel Gibson condemns Azerbaijan's genocide of #Artsakh Christian Armenians, calling out media silence and demanding swift international action to protect and save Armenians
To the Armenian people who still suffer, I say: "Don't lose heart, God is with you"#120000Reasons pic.twitter.com/Qo7qOZdNW9
— ANCA (@ANCA_DC) September 27, 2023
“History tragically repeats itself as we witness a modern-day genocide unfolding, Yet the media’s silence on this issue is deafening,” the Passion of the Christ producer said.
“The Armenian people who have endured centuries of persecution because of their faith find themselves once again subjected to a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing.”
“In the grip of Azerbaijan and Turkey, countless Armenians are enduring unspeakable horrors. Loss of life, forced displacement, starvation, and isolation from essential supplies. These are the same Armenians whose roots run deep in a land they’ve called home for generations,” he continued.
He called on nations to help the Armenians, and offer them “desperately” needed protection:
“I implore the intentional community, across all nations, to take swift action, extend a helping hand to the Armenian population, offer them the protection they desperately need, and create a humanitarian corridor for their safe passage.
“Most importantly, let’s engage in immediate diplomatic efforts to ensure that these exiled individuals can return to their rightful homes without delay. To the Armenian people who still suffer, I say, ‘Don’t lose heart. God is with you.’”
The video was recorded last month, while there were hopes that Armenia’ Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbajiani President Ilham Alieyew would meet in late October with European Council President Charles Michel. Since then, though, Armenia has said peace talks have been cancelled.
Azerbaijan’s predominantly ethnic-Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh won de facto independence from Baku in a war which was characterised by ethnic cleansing and massacres from 1988 to 1994. Until 2020, the conflict remained “frozen,” however, until Azerbaijan underwent a six week blitz to recapture the area.
Since December 2022, the small Armenian Christian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh — which is locally known as Artsakh — has been under blockade by neighboring Azerbaijan. This siege resulted in the cutting off of access to food and medicine, while public utilities such as gas, electricity and internet, were either damaged or shut down.
A second assault on 19 September this year recaptured the remaining areas controlled by Armenia in the space of 24-hours. This resulted in 200 deaths, and left more than 400 wounded, Stepanakert reports.
In the last fortnight, the two nations had both expressed their willingness to sign a treaty to put an end to the decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh – the breakaway region recaptured by Azerbaijan in September, which resulted in roughly 120,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing to Armenia.
Armenia’s foreign minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, said this week that the talks had been cancelled. Mr Mirzoyan made the revelation during a press conference in Yerevan on Wednesday, claiming that Azerbaijan had withdrawn from the meeting.
“You asked who did not find the time. Obviously, it was the president of Azerbaijan,” Mirzoyan said, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS. “I hope that the problem is really time. Armenia is ready to participate in this meeting.”
Prior to that, on Tuesday, Jeyhyn Bavramov, Azerbaijan’s foreign minister, insisted that peace was in reach, stating: “There are real chances for the conclusion of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia within a short period of time.”
Last month, Armenian leaders voiced fears that the republic of Nagorno-Karabakh will cease to exist as soon as January 1, after so many thousands were forced to flee when the region was overrun with Azerbaijani forces.
President of the separatist region, Samvel Shakhramanyan, announced the province’s dissolution in late September, putting an end to its 30-year battle for independence from Baku. Armenian officials have described the situation as “ethnic cleansing.”
In his decree, Mr Shakhramanyan said in his decree that “all state institutions and organisations under their departmental subordination by January 1, and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases to exist.”
Residents of the area were also instructed to “familiarise themselves with the contusion of reintegration presented by the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
“This is an act of ethnic cleansing of which we were warning the international community about for a long time,” Shakhramanyan told a cabinet meeting.
In response, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry denied ethnic cleansing and claimed Baku had appealed to local residents to stay put.
The UN, human rights organisations, and others, have sounded the alarm regarding an unfolding genocidal ethnic cleansing of Armenians by Azerbaijan.
In August, a group of UN experts expressed grave concern over the humanitarian crisis facing Armenia, calling on the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan to be lifted.
“The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is a humanitarian emergency that has created severe shortages of essential food staples including sunflower oil, fish, chicken, dairy products, cereal, sugar and baby formula,” they said.
“By lifting the blockade, the authorities can alleviate the suffering of thousands of people in Nagorno-Karabakh and allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population,” the experts said, adding: “It is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals during this critical time.”
“We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to uphold its international obligations to respect and protect human rights, including the right to food, health, education and life. We also emphasise the importance of cooperation and dialogue among all parties involved to find a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”