International Conference on Artsakh Held in Switzerland

At the initiative of His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians, the World Council of Churches organized an international conference in Switzerland under the title "Religious Freedom: Preserving Armenian Spiritual, Cultural, and Historical Heritage in Artsakh."

During the conference, the Catholicos of All Armenians declared that, with the military support of Turkey, Azerbaijan has committed atrocities by forcibly seizing and fully depopulating Artsakh of its Armenian inhabitants. Azerbaijan has also occupied significant, strategically vital areas along Armenia’s borders and continues to impose ever-new demands during the peace treaty negotiations. Moreover, Azerbaijan holds as hostages the political leadership of Artsakh, civilians, and prisoners of war, subjecting them to staged, politically motivated trials in blatant violation of international legal standards.

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches stated that Christians are called to be witnesses to the truth, which means standing with the victims and courageously naming evil for what it is.