The government of Artsakh has adopted a statement calling upon UN member states to recognize its independence. The appeal is based on the ‘Remedial Secession Doctrine’, which in essence is a unilateral secession as a measure against tyranny, human rights abuses, and/or segregation from governmental participation from the ‘parent state’. With the present blockade of Artsakh by the Azeri government, it is on this basis the government has adopted their appeal.
One very well known use of the ‘Remedial Secession Doctrine’ is when Kosovo separated from Serbia under this doctrine.
Notably, this is not the first time the government of Artsakh has asked its independence be recognized by UN member states.
The National Assembly of Artsakh released a statement, which may be read in part below:
“It is undeniable that all the necessary condition for recognition exist. The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) exercised its right to self-determination without violating the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, without violating the relevant provisions of the USSR Constitution ‘On the Withdrawal of Union Republics from the USSR,’ adopted on April 3, 1990. According to this ‘Autonomous republics and autonomous entities have the right to independently decide the issue of staying in the union or in the union republic leaving its composition, as well as to regulate the issue of their own state legal status’ — all within confines and norms of international law. We are deeply convinced that the only way to prevent the impending tragedy is to recognize the independence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) based on the principle of RECOGNITION FOR SALVATION”
