Juan Ernesto Mendez: There is sufficient reason to proffer an early warning that the population of Nagorno-Karabakh is at risk of genocide

On August 23, the preliminary report of Argentine lawyer, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Juan Ernesto Mendez, on the situation in Artsakh was published. The preliminary conclusion was given at the request of the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN. It says that the issues related to the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh are deepening, violating the mandatory judgement of the International Court of Justice.

“Concrete measures are needed to prevent violent crimes by mobilizing the preventive mechanisms of the UN,” the report says.

“There is sufficient reason to proffer an early warning that the population of Nagorno-Karabakh is at risk of genocide.”