Kim Kardashian Spotlights Azerbaijan’s Atrocities in Armenia
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Hashim Sheikh
- . September 9, 2023
- . Update: September 9, 2023 7:01 pm
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has appealed to the US President Joe Biden and world leaders to “stop the Armenian genocide”. “We are the descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors.” She wrote in an opinion piece with Eric Esrailian, who is a physician and producer.
“We are Armenian. And we do not want to be talking about the recognition or commemoration of yet another genocide in the future. Regional peace should not involve sacrificing the sovereignty of the Armenians in Artsakh, but regardless of what anyone believes about our opinion, it is clear that this ruthless blockade has crossed all red lines of human rights and humanitarian law.”
Kardashian, who is of Armenian descent from her father’s side, and Esrailian claim the Azerbaijan government is using starvation as a weapon against Armenia by blocking the only lifeline between the indigenous Christian Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the rest of the world.
They wrote that blocking human rights groups, like the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the hateful rhetoric accompanying the blockade are signs of genocidal intent. “Supporters of this starvation use coordinated social media campaigns to pretend that a blockade is not taking place. This dystopian propaganda may be absurd to those with knowledge, but the defenders of these human rights abuses are trying to confuse people given everything else happening in the world.”
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Kardashian and Esrailian believe that economic sanctions and cutting off aid to Azerbaijan, and boycotting international events there will collectively achieve results. “But this process has been too slow and time is running out.” The duo called on world leaders to pressure Azerbaijan to open the corridor without preconditions.
The blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan has been ongoing for more than seven months now. It has obstructed the road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, leaving the people vulnerable to acute food shortages, and medication. This blockade has put the lives of children, women, persons with disabilities, older people, and the sick at risk.
The UN highlighted this ongoing blockade as a humanitarian emergency. It urged authorities in Azerbaijan to restore the free and secure movement along the Lachin corridor in both directions.
