The Armenian community in Georgia stated that holding a concert in Georgian capital Tbilisi on the anniversary of the 44-day Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020 is unacceptable, and it called on the Georgian authorities to cancel the event.

“We appeal to the Ministry of Culture of Georgia to take under consideration the fact that on November 6, the Azerbaijani embassy is organizing a concert titled ‘5th Anniversary of Victory Day – November 8.’ Azerbaijan marks that day as the victory of the 44-day war in 2020 in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). (…).

During the 2020 war, thousands of Armenians were killed, many families were destroyed, and 11,458 square kilometers of Artsakh territory were occupied, including the historic city of Shushi, and for the first time in history, Artsakh was left without Armenians as Artsakh residents were expelled from their ancestral lands. Marking these events as a ‘victory’ is unacceptable.

We express moral outrage, as such an event is taking place at a time when thousands of Armenian families are still suffering from the consequences of ethnic cleansing, and in [Azerbaijani capital] Baku, a sham trial is being conducted by Azerbaijan against unlawfully captured [Armenian] civilians and former regional leaders. This is a gross violation of international humanitarian law.

We are convinced that the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, as a body protecting the country’s cultural and moral values, should not remain indifferent to such manifestations, as holding such events in Tbilisi contributes to the deepening of ethnic clashes.

We urge the [Georgian] authorities to consider the possibility of preventing the holding of such events in state cultural institutions and to express a position that aligns with the spirit of humanism, justice, and respect for human dignity,” the Armenian community of Georgia stated on its Facebook page.