By Siranush Adamyan
A delegation representing the Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights of the People of Artsakh held meetings in Switzerland from April 29 to May 1, pressing for the return of displaced Armenians and raising concerns over detainees and Armenian cultural heritage in the ethnically cleansed region.
The committee said discussions with international agencies and humanitarian organizations focused on securing the right of collective return for Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, the release of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan, and clarifying the fate of missing persons. The group also highlighted the need for urgent measures to prevent the continued destruction and vandalism of Artsakh’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
Last Thursday, a special event dedicated to Artsakh was held at the Swiss Federal Parliament. Swiss lawmakers, experts, members of the Armenian community and representatives of Christian Solidarity International attended the gathering.
Opening the event, MPs Erich Vontobel and Stefan Müller-Altermatt, co-chairs of the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno-Karabakh committee, criticized what they described as international inaction during the displacement of Artsakh Armenians in 2023. Vontobel said Switzerland had the expertise and credibility to contribute to a peace process and should take on that role.
Ashot Danielyan, the speaker of Artsakh’s parliament in exile, and other members of the delegation, including the now-defunct republic’s former Culture Minister Lernik Hovhannisyan, briefed attendees on the situation of displaced Armenians, stressing the need for a collective and dignified return.
Concerns over cultural heritage come amid fresh reports of destruction on the ground. Satellite imagery published late last month revealed that the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert, the region’s capital, had been demolished, same as the nearby St. Jacob Church. The cathedral, opened in 2019, also served as a bomb shelter during the 2020 and 2023 hostilities.
The visit comes as the committee intensifies its diplomatic efforts. Last year, the group said it had entered a “decisive phase,” planning high-level engagements in Washington, Brussels and Geneva to push for an internationally backed mediation process.
The International Court of Justice issued a ruling in November 2023 affirming obligations related to the rights of displaced persons, while the European Parliament has adopted resolutions supporting the right of return. Switzerland’s National Council has also backed the creation of a dialogue platform between representatives of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, dismissed by Baku.
Concluding the visit, the delegation said the Artsakh issue “is not closed” and must remain on the international agenda until displaced Armenians are able to return and a settlement is reached in line with international law.
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