U.S. State Department Examining Nagorno-Karabakh Events, Says USAID

Samantha Power, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), addressed the ongoing examination of events in Nagorno-Karabakh by the U.S. State Department during a briefing in Yerevan on July 10. She refrained from labeling the forced deportation as ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the briefing, Power acknowledged that the U.S. State Department is actively reviewing recent reports concerning Nagorno-Karabakh. These reports include documented data and interviews with numerous families affected by the events, particularly those in September 2023.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and are aware of the latest developments," Power stated, emphasizing the importance of factual accuracy and comprehensive assessment before making official statements.

Background

In September of 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack on the indigenous population of Nagorno-Karabakh (Republic of Artsakh) after holding the people hostage in a nine-month blockade with no food or medical essentials allowed inside the Republic.

Following the 2020 war, the people and its military were physically, emotionally, and mentally depleted. The Artsakh army surrendered, leading to the mass ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenian population, forcing them to forcibly flee their homes.

Samantha Power was in Syunik Province of Armenia, witnessing firsthand as over 100,000 Armenians were fleeing their homes toward Armenia to escape Azerbaijani violence and extermination.