For several days now, we have been observing the start of the most intense armed confrontation in recent years between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the extreme escalation of the military situation in the conflict zone. Today, both states have declared martial law and are conducting mass mobilization of their populations. Both countries report casualties, including among the civilian population. Despite critical statements from international organizations and other actors, unfortunately, there are still no signs of willingness or readiness to move the military conflict into the framework of political negotiations.

We, the peoples living in the Caucasus region, have the gravest experience of brutal wars, conflicts, and displacement. Through our own historical experiences, we have all come to understand that war burdens people, has the power to destroy and impoverish them, and brings only pain, suffering, and disappointment. No nation or ethnic group in our region has ever achieved victory or development as a result of war.

This is precisely why we believe that our region can attain stability and development only through the politics of peace, dialogue, and cooperation. A defining and constant characteristic of our region has always been its diversity. Under conditions of ultra-nationalism, ethno-nationalism, and chauvinism, differences between ethnic groups and countries are used to divide and isolate us, as if these differences constitute insurmountable barriers. It is crucial that we recognize the value of diversity and use it as a basis for unity. Moreover, chauvinistic rhetoric often completely overlooks the characteristics that unite the peoples living in this region — we have far more in common than what divides us. We are continually engaged in processes of political, cultural, social, and humanitarian support for one another, and we ultimately share the consequences and pain of war together. In a complex geopolitical context, preserving peace and stability in the Caucasus is essential for the development of individual countries and the region as a whole, and governments must not undermine this reality.

It is also important that citizens recognize the supreme value of peace — and therefore of human life — and avoid giving in to the dominant ideas of ethno-nationalism, chauvinism, and militarism, which are used as blind tools against peoples, to subjugate and divide them.

We, civil society organizations operating in Georgia — including Georgian citizens of Azerbaijani, Armenian, and other ethnic backgrounds and activists from these communities — stand together on the side of peace, humanity, and solidarity, and we call on the governments of our region and international actors to pursue peaceful and humane policies.

We call on:

The Government of Georgia
• To strictly maintain neutrality in the ongoing conflict and, within its means, take humanitarian and other measures to support the affected civilian population in both countries;
• To better recognize its role in supporting peace in the region and take active steps to facilitate the start of negotiations between the parties;
• To implement appropriate political and cultural measures to prevent the transfer of war-related tensions and sentiments into Georgia.

The Governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia
• To immediately take measures to stop the military confrontation and work toward resolving the conflict and tensions through peaceful political negotiations.

The Governments of Russia and Turkey
• To refrain from participating in the military confrontation and, through intervention, from further deepening the military and political conflict and the existing tensions in the region.

International organizations, including the UN, OSCE, NATO, Council of Europe, and the EU
• To take more effective and direct measures to achieve a ceasefire and develop more efficient strategies to support the peaceful and political resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Media outlets operating in Georgia
• To cover events related to the armed confrontation as neutrally as possible and to take into account the presence of local ethnic minorities in Georgia.

Signed by:
Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)
Caucasian House
Human Rights Center
Center for Engagement and Development
Open Society Georgia Foundation
Equality Movement
Union Sapari
International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)
Institute for the Study of Nationalism and Conflicts
Women’s Initiatives Support Group (WISG)
Youth for Diplomatic Engagement
Center for Peace and Civic Development (CPCD)
Women’s Fund in Georgia
Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association
Democracy Research Institute
Association of Displaced Women “Consent” (“Tankhmoba”)