As we have heard, there is a big alarm that in the near future Azerbaijan may commit military aggression against the territory of Armenia. Tim Lowth

Tim Lawton, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom, member of the Conservative Party, chairman of the UK-Armenian Friendship Group, stated that Azerbaijan carried out ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh (Republic of Artsakh - ed.), calling on the UK government to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan. As "Armenpress" reports, Tim Lowton said about it in the Parliament of the United Kingdom during the discussion entitled "International support to the refugees of Nagorno-Karabakh".

"In this chamber and the main chamber, we talked a lot about the problems of Armenians. We had the bill on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide presented by me, etc., and we discussed the issues regarding the blockade of the Lachine Corridor. Yesterday we had an alarming and sobering briefing with the former human rights ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan. He informed us about the latest threats to Armenia, as well as the chronology of what happened in Nagorno-Karabakh during the past year," Lawton said.

He reminded that on September 19 of last year, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack in Nagorno-Karabakh, pushing Armenians out of the houses where they lived for generations.

"As we heard yesterday, they blocked the escape routes outside the territory and took a number of military personnel and political prisoners, specific individuals. They captured former presidents of Nagorno Karabakh Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan and Araik Harutyunyan. They remain in captivity. Ruben Vardanyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Davit Manukyan and Levon Mnatsakanyan are among the other prisoners of war. What was the result of all that? To be honest, it was ethnic cleansing on a large scale. Before the 2020 war, the population of Nagorno Karabakh was 160 thousand people. Women, the elderly and the sick were evacuated during the initial bombings, and many never returned after the November 2020 ceasefire. Many patients and some students left Nagorno-Karabakh during the siege. It is estimated that after the September 2023 attacks, 105,000 Armenians left Nagorno-Karabakh, in a chaotic state, through closed roads," Lawton elaborated.

He emphasized that Azerbaijan is trying to erase the name, culture, history and heritage of a people who lived in that area for centuries.

Lawton turned to the UK Minister for European Affairs, Leo Docherty, who was present at the discussion, emphasizing that they have humanitarian responsibilities and long-standing relations with Armenia, the Armenian Diaspora throughout the world and in the United Kingdom.

"Will the government investigate whether there has been ethnic cleansing under UN definitions?" If so, what are the implications? Will the government demand an investigation into the treatment of political prisoners and prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, who are still being held by Azerbaijanis? What will the government do to pressure Azerbaijanis to withdraw from the sovereign territory of Armenia?

As we have heard, there is a great alarm that in the near future they may make further military encroachments on the clear, sovereign Armenian territory. There must be consequences for these abuses of international law. There should be sanctions. I believe that the United Kingdom has a role in any peacekeeping operation that can be used to secure Nagorno-Karabakh and the borders of Armenia, because this is a very fragile situation. We have a duty of care here. One of the responsibilities of this chamber is to inform the world about this ethnic cleansing and this huge humanitarian crisis," Lawton said.