On September 13, at 00:05, Azerbaijani armed forces launched a large-scale military operation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Attacks with artillery, mortars, drones and large caliber rifles are mainly aimed at Vardenis, Sotk, Artanish, Ishkhanasar, Goris and Kapan and the surrounding towns. In addition to military targets, civil infrastructures are also being attacked by the Azerbaijani armed forces. These military operations are independent of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and represent a direct attack on the Republic of Armenia. With this attack, Azerbaijan once again clearly violates international law.

This attack is once again destroying the already shaky peace in the region and flouting international law and human rights. We are extremely concerned for the life and well-being of the Armenian people. There are already dozens dead and many injured. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and with our compatriots in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. You all have our solidarity.

We, the Armenian Church in Germany, are committed to stopping this attack by Azerbaijan, which violates international law, and to peace as far as we can. For 2 years we have been supporting people in need as a result of the 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh, but we fear that the humanitarian situation in Armenia will also worsen.

With extreme concern we address the Federal Government, all political parties in the Federal Republic of Germany, all competent national and international organizations and institutions, with the urgent request to work to end this escalation, the Azerbaijani attack on the sovereign territory, which is contrary to international law of the Republic of Armenia and to force the aggressor Azerbaijan to immediately stop the attacks on the Republic of Armenia and to withdraw from the sovereign territory of Armenia.

At the same time, we turn to our sister churches, to the German Bishops' Conference, to the Evangelical Church in Germany, to the Orthodox Bishops' Conference, to all member churches of the Working Group of Christian Churches in Germany and to all people of good will to pray for peace in Armenia.

Chancellery of the Diocese