The Fight for Artsakh

For the past 105 years, Armenians everywhere have been calling for the recognition of the 1915 genocide that the Ottoman Empire committed against the Armenian people. Around 1.5 million Armenians were murdered, and countless more were ousted from their homeland. They were forced to flee to wherever they could. Land was stolen, and entire sacred mountains were taken due to changes of the border as the Ottoman Empire sacked its neighbor. To this day, the country of Turkey, formerly the Ottoman Empire, denies that the Armenian genocide even happened. Despite Turkey’s denial, Armenians everywhere, including myself, have been demanding justice every April on the anniversary of the beginning of the genocide. The most common phrase we use is 1915 never again, but in 2020 Armenians across the globe woke to our collective worst fear: it was happening again. Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia skyrocketed in July, but the situation seemed to cool down until September 27, 2020, when the first military clashes began. My first-ever college experience was already drastically changed by the pandemic. I never thought my first semester of college would also be spent worrying about a second Armenian genocide and fearing for the status of my ancestral homelands. One specific worry has been Azerbaijan’s use of white phosphorus to bomb the forests in Artsakh. White phosphorus is a deadly weapon that should not be used due to its devastating effects on human life and the environment. Due to the extremely limited media attention the war has received, in this essay, I will bring to light these crimes against humanity taking place across the sea.

On September 27th, 2020, we woke up to the news that Armenia was under attack yet again. Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, began attacking the Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh in September (see Appendix A). To understand why Armenia is under attack again, it is imperative to know the history: this is not the first time Armenians have been the targets of the Turkish states. Currently, Azerbaijan wants control of Artsakh because their goal is the complete erasure of Armenia and everything Armenian. This anti-Armenian sentiment forwards the idea of pan-Turkism, the ultimate goal and justification for the Turkish states to wipe out the Armenian people. Pan-Turkism is a movement that began in the 1880s and is still a very present ideology today, with the purpose of uniting all Turkish-speaking countries (Pekesen). Part of this movement includes removing all non-Muslim minorities from Turkish-speaking lands. These minorities include Assyrians, Greeks, and especially Armenians since we are directly between Turkey and Azerbaijan. This small Christian nation of ours is the only thing keeping them separate from one another. The mindset of Turkey and Azerbaijan is that they are two countries but one nation, and the only thing standing in the way is Armenia. The current president of Turkey, Erdoğan, seeks to create a second Ottoman Empire by uniting these countries. In order to do so, Turkey and Azerbaijan have decided to perpetrate a second Armenian genocide, and they started another war to claim the land for themselves.

The specific area of conflict is historically known as Artsakh but is currently legally controlled by Azerbaijan under the name Nagorno-Karabakh, also referred to as just Karabakh. The region is populated mostly by people who are ethnically Armenian, and National Geographic confirms the area is “a de facto independent state that has been outside of Azeri rule since 1988” (Blakemore). Despite Azeri beliefs, Armenians are indigenous to Artsakh and have been living there for thousands of years. This area has been populated by ethnically Armenian people long before the common era. Because the population is mostly Armenian, the inhabitants of Artsakh declared their independence from Azerbaijan in 1992, which was followed by a two-year war that ended in a shaky ceasefire in 1994.

Artsakh was left in peace until 2020 when Azerbaijan used the distraction of the global pandemic to attack and attempt to reclaim the territory. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UN issued a global ceasefire, but Azerbaijan decided to attack Artsakh anyway. In addition to the violation of an international ceasefire, Azerbaijan’s war crimes include, but are not limited to: Armenian prisoners of war being skinned alive and dismembered, which goes against the Geneva Convention law against torturing/murdering enemy victims; intentionally targeting civilians, schools, and hospitals; using cluster bombs on cities; hiring Syrian mercenaries from ISIS; violating three ceasefire agreements in one month; and using illegal weapons such as white phosphorus (Avedian). These atrocities have gone unrecognized and unpunished by the rest of the world, just as the genocide was in 1915. This lack of worldwide recognition and consequences has only encouraged the Turks to try again. Since there were no consequences last time, they have no qualms about making a second attempt at genocide.

The element being weaponized, white phosphorus, is a very toxic substance that can be used in military contexts as an incendiary agent, which means a weapon designed to start fires. White phosphorus is “extremely flammable” and “reacts violently with oxidants, halogens, some metals, nitrites, sulfur, and many other compounds” (U.S. Department of Health). It is often debated whether or not it is acceptable to use white phosphorus in war. On the one hand, it has horrible effects on humans, such as severe burns. Smoke from white phosphorus can have very damaging effects on the eyes, such as perforation of the cornea. Skin exposure can lead to second and third-degree burns. These burns can be extremely painful, and the burn site may even release smoke because the chemical could continue to produce phosphoric acid and keep burning. Typically victims of exposure will die within four to eight days after being exposed (U.S. Department of Health). On the other hand, international law states that white phosphorus is legal to use. Accepted uses of white phosphorus include using the chemical to create smoke screens or to create illumination. It can also be used to mark targets or burn down buildings and still be legal. Yet this law also states that “its use against combatants is prohibited,” meaning that white phosphorus can be used as long as it is not used against people (“White Phosphorus Munitions”).

Even though there are instances where using white phosphorus is legal, Azerbaijan’s use of the weapon should be considered a war crime since they used it on the citizens who were hiding in the forests. This is because the reason they were bombing the forests in the first place was to attack the people hiding there. Primary-source video documentations of the white phosphorus burning the forests can be accessed online, and the footage is unfortunate to watch (See Appendix B). It shows the bombs raining down on the forests, looking like fireworks gone wrong. There is also footage of the fires caused by these bombs, with huge plumes of smoke rising into the air (See Appendix C). Using this weapon against civilians goes against the Geneva Convention (“White Phosphorus Munitions”).

On top of all the horrible effects white phosphorus has on humans, it is also incredibly harmful to the environment. Azerbaijan’s use of white phosphorus is extremely harmful to the forests of Artsakh. Putting chemicals into the Artsakh forests is especially damaging for all the endangered species living there. Not only are there many different endangered species, but there are also critically endangered species who make their homes in these forests. The forests are “considered one of the world’s hotspots in terms of biodiversity” and “6,000 plant species, 153 species of mammals and 400 species of birds” make their home there (“Armenian Environmental”). Hundreds of these varying species are already threatened or endangered, so this devastating situation serves as a great threat to these creatures. Some endangered species living in Artsakh include brown bears, Eurasian Lynx, certain species of eagles and vultures, and Armenian Mouflons (a type of sheep). Another species that is affected is the critically endangered Caucasian leopard, with only around 1,000 of these leopards left in the wild. Because they are at risk of becoming completely extinct, efforts have been made to conserve this species of leopard, which is the largest feline species in Europe. Resources have been invested into conservation efforts from both Armenia and Azerbaijan, and even from Iran (“Armenian Environmental”). For Azerbaijan to then turn around and ruthlessly bomb the home of the Caucasian leopard is extremely counterproductive. Thankfully, as of December 2020, Azerbaijan appears to have stopped using these white phosphorus weapons on Artsakh. However, the damage has already been done: the white phosphorus munitions have contaminated the nearby water, which will affect the wildlife in the region and people who use that water for years and years to come (“Armenian Environmental”).

Just as it was in 1915, the world is yet again unusually silent towards the atrocities taking place in Artsakh and against the Armenian people. Most countries do not want to get involved with a conflict they have deemed as not their issue, and, in this case, the countries committing these crimes against humanity involve one specific export that every other country uses daily. What are Turkey and Azerbaijan’s free passes to do whatever they want? Oil money. One of Turkey’s top ten exports is oil, and in 2019, Turkey exported over seven billion U.S. dollars (or over fifty-seven billion Turkish lira) worth of oil (Sabanoglu). Azerbaijan also has the same oil ticket that Turkey has: CNBC reports that “Azerbaijan is the 24th largest crude oil producer in the world and a significant producer of natural gas, which both account for more than 90% of Azerbaijan’s exports” (Murphy and Gamble). Sometimes other countries will look the other way when these two Turkish nations cause more problems because they enjoy having a steady supply of oil.

The United States has a few other reasons for not getting involved. First of all, the U.S. is extremely busy with their own issues, such as the 2020 election that has captured the attention of everyone around the globe. Secondly, the U.S. has two military bases in Turkey and an “estimated 2,500 troops” located in the country (Berger). It appears the United States is too concerned with the possibility of losing their military bases to interfere with Azerbaijan since the Azeris are backed by Turkey. These fears are not entirely unfounded, however. France has shown support for Armenia in the past and continues to do so, and Turkey responds by threatening them. Erdoğan recently told Istanbul reporters that “Macron is a burden on France. . . . My hope is that France gets rid of the Macron trouble as soon as possible” (“Erdogan Hopes France”). He also said that French President Macron needs “mental health checks” (“Erdogan Hopes France”). The U.S. fear of Turkey lashing out at them for trying to get involved is reasonable, based on other countries’ experiences in dealing with them.

            Currently, the use of white phosphorus on Artsakh’s forests has come to an end with the agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 10th, 2020. Russia brokered an agreement for peace, which Armenian officials felt they needed to take to stop the war. We were losing too many young people; many of the soldiers were teenage boys as young as eighteen years old. The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, stated that this was “a very hard decision for me and all of us” (Kramer). Although fewer people are dying every day, reports are still flowing in of beheadings of Armenian civilians and torture of Armenian prisoners of war. The Russian peacekeepers now stationed in the area are also beginning to look into Azerbaijan’s breach of the ceasefire (again), as they have attacked more villages in Artsakh’s town of Hadrut in early December (“Russian Peacekeepers”). On December 10th during Azerbaijan’s victory parade in Baku, the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, was making claims on Yerevan, Armenia’s capital city, and two other Armenian regions that are in Armenia proper. These three regions of Yerevan, Sevan, and Zangezur have never not been Armenia (“At Baku Victory”).

Just as was the case in 1915, our fight for survival is far from over. If we want the Turkish states to leave Armenia alone, the rest of the world is going to need to hold them accountable for their actions. Otherwise, they will just repeat history again, as was shown in this war. I hope that my future Armenian children will grow up in a world where they do not have to worry about our homelands being taken, occupied, and destroyed ever again.

Works Cited

“Armenian Environmental Organizations Raise Alarm about Use of White Phosphorus in Artsakh’s Forested Regions.” The Armenian Weekly, Hairenik Association, 4 Nov. 2020, http://armenianweekly.com/2020/11/04/armenian-environmental-organizations-raise-alarm-about-use-of-white-phosphorus-in-artsakhs-forested-regions/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

“At Baku Victory Parade, Aliyev Calls Yerevan, Zangezur, Sevan Historical Azerbaijani Lands, Erdogan Praises Enver Pasha.” The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, Baikar Association, 11 Dec. 2020, http://mirrorspectator.com/2020/12/11/at-baku-victory-parade-with-erdogan-aliyev-calls-yerevan-zangezur-sevan-historical-azerbaijani-lands-erdogan-praises-enver-pasha/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2020.

Avedian, Lillian. “Evidence of Azeri War Crimes Accumulates.” The Armenian Weekly, Hairenik Association, 15 Oct. 2020, http://armenianweekly.com/2020/10/15/evidence-of-azeri-war-crimes-accumulates/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.

Berger, Miriam. “Where U.S. Troops Are in the Middle East and Afghanistan, Visualized.” The Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2020, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/where-us-troops-are-in-the-middle-east-and-could-now-be-a-target-visualized/2020/01/04/1a6233ee-2f3c-11ea-9b60-817cc18cf173_story.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

Blakemore, Erin. “How the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Has Been Shaped by past Empires.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 15 Oct. 2020, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/10/how-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-shaped-by-past-empires/. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

“Erdogan Hopes France ‘Gets Rid of Macron Trouble.'” Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera Media Network, 4 Dec. 2020, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/4/erdogan-hopes-france-gets-rid-of-macron-trouble. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

Harutyunyan, Aneta. Armenia Proposes to Increase Fine for Caucasian Leopard Hunting by 97 Million Drams. 10 May 2019. Armenpress, Armenpress News Agency, http://armenpress.am/eng/news/974331.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

Kramer, Andrew. “Facing Military Debacle, Armenia Accepts a Deal in Nagorno-Karabakh War.” The New York Times, 9 Nov. 2020, http://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/world/middleeast/armenia-settlement-nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

Murphy, Dan, and Hadley Gamble. “Deadly Armenia-Azerbaijan Clashes Unlikely to Cause an Oil Spike, Analyst Says.” CNBC News, NBCUniversal News Group, 28 Sept. 2020, http://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/28/armenia-azerbaijan-clashes-add-to-oil-market-anxiety.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

Pekesen, Berna. “Pan-Turkism.” European History Online, Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG), 29 Jan. 2019, http://ieg-ego.eu/en/threads/transnational-movements-and-organisations/pan-ideologies/berna-pekesen-pan-turkism. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

“President Arayik Harutyunyan.” 10 Nov. 2020. The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, Baikar Association, http://mirrorspectator.com/2020/11/10/36108/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

“Russian Peacekeepers Arrive In Artsakh’s Villages In Hadrut Attacked By Azerbaijan.” Zartonk Media, 12 Dec. 2020, http://zartonkmedia.com/2020/12/12/russian-peacekeepers-arrive-in-artsakhs-villages-in-hadrut-attacked-by-azerbaijan/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

Sabanoglu, Tugba. “Leading 20 Export Commodities of Turkey 2019.” Statista, Ströer Media, 9 Oct. 2020, http://www.statista.com/statistics/1056306/largest-export-commodities-of-turkey/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

“The Endangered Armenian Mouflon.” 15 Sept. 2018. Art-A-Tsolum, http://allinnet.info/nature/the-endangered-armenian-mouflon/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

@Artak_Beglaryan. “URGENT! Based on preliminary data, Azerbaijan used banned white phosphorus munitions over Artsakh/Karabakh causing fires to forests next to civilian communities. In addition to ecological disaster they aim at burning the people hidden in the forests.” Twitter, 30 Oct. 2020, http://twitter.com/Artak_Beglaryan/status/1322275126197448705. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. “White Phosphorus: Systemic Agent.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Government, 12 May 2011, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750025.html. Accessed 9 Nov. 2020.

“War Crime: Azerbaijan is using white phosphorus to burn forests in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh).” Youtube, 7 Nov. 2020, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz-8o4uXdR0&t=1s. Accessed 21 Feb. 2021.

Wardley, Rosemary. Nagorno-Karabakh’s Borders Have Long Been in Dispute. 15 Oct. 2020. National Geographic, National Geographic Society, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/10/how-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-shaped-by-past-empires/. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

“White Phosphorus Munitions.” The Weapons Law Encyclopedia of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Geneva Academy, 2 Dec. 2013, http://www.weaponslaw.org/weapons/white-phosphorus-munitions. Accessed 12 Dec. 2020.

Appendix

Appendix A

Image: Wardley, Rosemary. “Nagorno-Karabakh’s borders have long been in dispute.” National Geographic, The National Geographic Society, 15 Oct. 2020, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/how-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-shaped-by-past-empires. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Appendix B

Link to Primary Source footage of burning forests can be accessed by clicking here, posted by Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh, Artak Beglaryan.

Appendix C

Link to more footage of burning forests can be accessed by clicking here, posted to Youtube in November 2020.

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