Western Azerbaijan Community condemns UN official’s silence on Armenia's legacy of destruction in Azerbaijan

The Western Azerbaijan Community (WAC) has issued a strong condemnation of the recent statements made by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at the UN Human Rights Council, accusing him of bias and failure to address critical issues surrounding the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

In a pointed commentary, the WAC expressed disappointment that Türk did not address the grave consequences of Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands, which included the destruction of religious and cultural heritage, as well as the ongoing threat posed by landmines, Caliber.Az reports.

The community also emphasized the unresolved issue of nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis still missing, urging Türk to call on Armenia to cooperate in determining their fate.

The WAC also expressed concern over Türk’s silence regarding controversial remarks made by Armenia’s first President, Levon Ter-Petrosian, who advocated for the creation of a mono-ethnic state through the deportation of Azerbaijanis. “It is troubling that Commissioner Türk failed to comment on such racist rhetoric or the revanchist ideas periodically espoused in Armenia,” the statement read.

The community criticized Türk for failing to call on Armenia to engage in a dialogue with Western Azerbaijanis who are seeking a peaceful return to their ancestral lands. Instead, they argue, Türk’s call for the release of individuals accused of war crimes, including those responsible for the Khojaly genocide, amounts to encouraging impunity.

“We urge Commissioner Türk to stop applying a selective approach to international law and human rights,” the WAC statement concluded, adding that the High Commissioner should respect Azerbaijan's sovereignty and judicial independence. “We call on him not to interfere in the work of the judicial system of a sovereign state.”