'This is a second genocide', Glendale and LA officials show solidarity for Artsakh with 24-hr hunger strike

Hunger strike raises awareness for Artsakh

The nationwide 24 hour hunger strike is meant to demonstrate unity with the 120,000 residents of Artsakh experiencing a humanitarian crisis due to an illegal blockade by Azerbaijan.

LOS ANGELES - The Pan Armenian Council of Western USA held a press conference on Wednesday evening to launch a nationwide, 24-hour hunger strike in solidarity with the residents of Artsakh.

In December of last year, the nearby country of Azerbaijan instigated an allegedly illegal, 8-month blockade at the Lachin Corridor. This blockade halted critical resources, such as fuel, electricity and water reserves, from entering Artsakh, according to reports.

"It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a new genocide or a second genocide. The people in Artsakh are facing a humanitarian catastrophe," said Mayor of Glendale Dan Brotman. "Glendale has the single largest concentration of Armenian immigrants and their descendants in the United States, it is my responsibility to step forward and ask our leaders, President Biden and the U.S. State Department to take a stand and to take some aggressive actions to end this catastrophe before it gets worse."

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The press conference took place Wednesday evening at the Consulate of Azerbaijan in west LA, and marked the start of the 24-hour nationwide hunger strike.

The aim was to raise awareness about the "rapidly unfolding humanitarian crisis in the region, which has left 120,000 civilians on the brink of starvation and genocide." LA officials demanded "tangible action" by President Biden's Administration to end the blockade and end military assistance to Azerbaijan.

The Pan Armenian Council of Western USA listed the following demands of President Biden and the U.S. Department of State at the press conference:

"1. Ensuring the immediate re-opening of the Lachin Corridor by introducing and facilitating the passage of a UN Security Council Resolution requiring Azerbaijan to adhere to the February 22, 2023, preliminary measure of the ICJ ordering Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor;
2. Immediately halting all U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan in light of the illegal humanitarian blockade imposed on the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), consistent with Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act;
3. Sanctioning members of the Aliyev regime under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by individual members of the Aliyev regime;
4. Delivering $100 million in USAID humanitarian assistance to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) through the Lachin Corridor to ensure the survival of the 120,000 civilians who have been completely blockaded since June 15, 2023;
5. Introducing a UN Security Council resolution to establish a United Nations Mission in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) [UNMINK] consisting of 5,000 international military personnel to ensure the physical security of the population."

"The United States Government has the power to do just about whatever needs to be done. Whether it has the will is another matter," said Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian, "We can't let a bully, a dictator, dictate our values."