On May 19 Azerbaijan has filed a formal complaint with the United Nations Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations against Christian Solidarity International (CSI), accusing the organization of “politically motivated hostile actions” and violating UN standards due to its advocacy for displaced Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).
CSI, a human rights and religious freedom NGO with consultative status at the UN, has been vocal about Azerbaijan’s 2023 military offensive in Artsakh, which resulted in the mass displacement of more than 120,000 ethnic Armenians. The complaint is set to be reviewed by the UN Committee on Friday, May 23, alongside CSI’s written response.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) condemned Azerbaijan’s move, calling it an attempt to suppress international criticism of what it describes as a campaign of ethnic cleansing.
“Having deployed its military to forcibly expel Armenians from Artsakh, Azerbaijan is now attempting to silence those who speak out against this atrocity,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We stand in solidarity with CSI and all those seeking justice for the people of Artsakh.”
Since the 2023 offensive, CSI has raised the issue at multiple UN Human Rights Council sessions and organized side events highlighting the right of return for displaced Armenians and the ongoing detention of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.
Currently, sixteen ethnic Armenian detainees are reportedly facing closed-door trials in Baku. Rights organizations and UN officials, including High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, have criticized the proceedings and called for the release of those arbitrarily detained. The UN Committee Against Torture has previously expressed alarm over alleged torture and extrajudicial killings of Armenians in Azerbaijani custody.
Azerbaijan’s complaint also objects to CSI’s references to “Nagorno Karabakh” and its use of maps depicting the region’s historical borders, which Baku claims “distort the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
Human rights advocates warn the move is part of a broader effort by Azerbaijan to erase Artsakh’ presence from international discourse—first through military action, now through diplomatic and legal pressure targeting NGOs.
Despite the pressure, CSI has affirmed its commitment to defending the rights of persecuted communities, stating it will continue to use international platforms to advocate for displaced Artsakh Armenians.
