Ethnic Cleansing: Does International Law Still Matter?

The Archbishop Krikoris Balakian Annual Lecture

Two distinguished speakers at this inaugural annual lecture dedicated to the memory of Archbishop Krikoris Balakian (1875-1934), an eyewitness to the Genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and Primate of the Armenian Church in the UK in 1922—will address some of the critical legal and political questions regarding ethnic cleansing and international law.

The discussions will focus on the case of the Karabakh Armenians and their future in particular and the implications and effectiveness of international law in general.

Speakers: Lord Alton of Liverpool, the House of Lords;

Dr Arman Tatoyan, Former Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia and Professor of Law at the American University of Armenia.

Chair: Dr Hratch Tchilingirian, scholar and author, University of Oxford

Panel Discussion Moderator: Dr Ewelina U. Ochab, lawyer, human rights advocate, and author; co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response.

Opening remarks: Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the UK and Ireland.

Topic: Ethnic Cleansing: Does International Law still matter?

Growing conflicts around the world and cases of ethnic cleansing have put the ineffectiveness of international law at the forefront of public discourse. In the South Caucasus, the most recent ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan drove out the entire Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh.

After more than ten months of blockade verging to starvation, in September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a massive and devastating military attack on the Armenians, as a result of which, within less than a week, over 100,000 people were driven out of Karabakh and found safety in Armenia. The emptying of Nagorno Karabakh of its entire native Armenian population took place despite orders and legal obligations issued by the World Court in The Hague and with the full awareness of the international community.

Impunity and unenforceability of international law have given green light to authoritarian leaders and governments around the world to devastate the lives of millions of people.

Audience: By invitation: political figures, policymakers, academics, clergy, and other interested parties. Contact us at info@armenianchurch.org.uk to reserve your spot by March 1st!

Date: 19 March 2024 Time: 18:30-20:00. Reception opens from 17:30.

Venue: St Yeghiche Armenian Church, 13b Cranley Gardens, SW7 3BB