Ahead of Baku Formula 1 Grand Prix, Armenia calls on int’l sports community to condemn Azeri policy of ethnic cleansing

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia has called on the organisersof the "2023 Formula 1 Grand Prix" European tournament – due to take place in Baku – and the international sports community to raise a voice of protest regarding Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh.

Below is the full statement released by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia.

“The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia calls on theorganisersof the "2023 Formula 1 Grand Prix" European tournament and the international sports community to raise a voice of protest regarding the ethnic cleansing policy of the Azerbaijani authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh.The Ministrydraws the attention of the sports community to the fact that since December 12, 2022, the Republic of Azerbaijan has illegally blocked the Lachin Corridor, the only road connectingNagorno-KarabakhtobothArmenia and the world,creating an ongoing humanitarian crisis inNagorno-Karabakh.On February 22, 2023, the United Nations International Court of Justice satisfied Armenia's claim, obliging Azerbaijan toopen the Lachin Corridor immediately.Tothisday, Azerbaijan has not only failed to comply with the court's decision buthasalso cut off gas and electricity supplies.On April 23, the Azerbaijani authorities set up an illegal checkpoint on the humanitarian corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, taking 120,000 Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh hostage.With this policy, the Azerbaijani authorities are trying to ethnically cleanse the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, forcing them to leave their native land.The organisation of the "2023 Formula 1 Grand Prix" European tournament in Baku aims to cover up the policy of extermination of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.We call on the organisers and participants of the "2023 Formula 1 Grand Prix" not to be part of the cover-up of the policy of ethnic cleansing.”