Originally published September 29, 2023 10:11 am PDT
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, along with famed actor Mel Gibson, are raising their voices against the severe plight faced by Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh, a contested region recently seized by Azerbaijan.
Both figures are vehemently urging international entities to render immediate assistance to the thousands of Armenians fleeing their homes amidst what they describe as “ethnic cleansing,” according to a LifeSite News report.
Nagorno-Karabakh, also recognized as the Republic of Artsakh, is largely Christian and has been the focal point of strife and contention since the Soviet Union’s disintegration in 1991.
The region has experienced three significant confrontations with Azerbaijan, with the latest conflict seeing over 60,000 Armenians seeking refuge to escape the dire circumstances.
Highlighting the deep historical context, Gibson underscored the current calamity by stating, “History tragically repeats itself as we witness a modern-day genocide unfolding.”
This references the genocide of over 1 million Christian Armenians during the First World War by the Turks, an instance that signals a haunting repetition of history.
The heightened crisis began with Azerbaijan’s launching of an operation termed “anti-terror,” which reportedly used artillery and drones, leading to the overpowering of Karabakh Armenians within 24 hours, LifeSite explains.
This operation has resulted in a substantial civilian toll and massive displacements, with over 50 percent of the population now seeking refuge in Armenia.
The only access route, the Lachin Corridor, had been obstructed by the Azerbaijani government for nearly 10 months, and reports suggest that those fleeing face severe shortages of essentials like water, medicine, and food, and require over a day to traverse the road due to traffic delays and fuel scarcities.
Both Viganò and Gibson are expressing deep concern over the perceived indifference of the international community to the ongoing Armenian crisis.
Viganò criticized the apparent selective response by questioning, “Where is the international community, always ready to welcome Islamic migrants of military age, fleeing war zones or funding a proxy war in Ukraine under the pretext of Russian invasion?”
He further appealed to global institutions to take swift and effective action to offer aid, protection, and diplomatic interventions to ensure the return of the exiled Armenians to their homes.
“I invoke the intercession of St. Gregory the Illuminator, Patron of the Armenian Apostolic Church, that he may protect the persecuted Catholics and confirm them in the heroic witness of Faith that has animated them for centuries,” he added.
Supporting Viganò’s call to action, Mel Gibson emphasized the urgent need for international solidarity and assistance.
“I implore the international community across all nations to take swift action, extend a helping hand to the Armenian population, offer them the protection they desperately need, and create a humanitarian corridor for their safe passage,” Gibson urged.
Gibson also took note of the distressing silence from the media on this devastating issue, saying, “Yet the media silence on this issue is deafening.”
He underscored the relentless suffering of the Armenian people, who are now facing “unspeakable horrors: loss of life, forced displacement, starvation, and isolation from essential supplies.”
He concluded with a message of hope to the afflicted Armenians, stating, “To the Armenian people who still suffer, I say don’t lose heart. God is with you.”
This dire situation has raised pertinent questions regarding the responsiveness and responsibility of the international community in the face of humanitarian crises, especially when the affected are from Christian minorities.
