The Lemkin Genocide Prevention Institute issued an urgent SOS alert on September 19, 2023, asserting that, according to experts in Genocide Prevention, Genocide Watch, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, and the former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, there is undeniable evidence that what the Armenians of Artsakh are enduring following the 9-month siege by Azerbaijan constitutes genocide. This includes issues such as hunger, the urgent need for medical care, drone strikes, and the widespread shelling of civilian areas (https://www.lemkininstitute.com/sos-alerts-1/sos-alert---artsakh).

The statement emphasizes, "This crucial moment in time demands that influential leaders and nations take a stand against Azerbaijan, clearly demonstrating that any further aggression against Armenians will not be tolerated and will be met with the full range of options available in the genocide prevention toolkit. Neglecting this responsibility will render the international community complicit in the genocide. Failure to address Azerbaijan's actions may also result in escalation, further endangering the existence of Artsakh Armenians and exacerbating the ongoing conflict."

On September 22, the Lemkin Genocide Prevention Institute issued a second SOS alert for the Artsakh Armenians, underscoring that the Armenian population in Artsakh faces an imminent and critical danger of genocide.

The statement declares that "following a series of airstrikes, drone attacks, and extensive shelling of civilian-populated areas orchestrated by Azerbaijan on September 20 and 21, the frightened residents of Artsakh now find themselves held hostage by the Azerbaijani armed forces with no means of escape." Additionally, Azerbaijan has suspended all essential services, including electricity, natural gas, and telecommunication services (telephone and internet) in Artsakh.

The Lemkin Genocide Prevention Institute urgently calls upon the international community to take immediate action to safeguard the well-being and safety of the people of Artsakh.

The Lemkin Institute is appalled by the tragedy that has befallen the Artsakh Armenians, a situation that has unfolded despite years of warnings from nearly every genocide prevention expert and non-governmental organization. This catastrophe has transpired under the deliberate neglect of the international community, illustrating willful blindness to the imminent dangers foreseen by experts. We are not only committed to bearing witness to the mass atrocities unfolding in Artsakh, a tragedy exacerbated by the complicity of numerous world leaders and influential stakeholders but also to ensuring that the people of Artsakh attain justice for the grave atrocities occurring in the South Caucasus (https://www.lemkininstitute.com/sos-alerts-1/sos-alert---artsakh-).