A pro-Armenian demonstration took place in Lyon on Friday.

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PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP

Against the backdrop of escalating fighting between Azerbaijanis and Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, hundreds of members of the community of Armenian origin gathered in Lyon to say "stop" to the war in the Caucasus and denounce the role of Turkey.

"We have come together to tell France that Azerbaijan's aggression against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh, editor's note) stems from a deliberate and Machiavellian will of Turkish expansionism", denounced Jeanine Paloulian from the rostrum , co-president of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF), alongside several elected officials from the Lyon region gathered in the pouring rain in front of the prefecture.

Nagorny-Karabakh, mostly populated by Armenians, seceded from Azerbaijan, leading to a war in the early 1990s, which left 30,000 dead.

The front, almost frozen since, despite regular clashes especially in 2016, has seen an upsurge in fighting since the summer.

In the eyes of the Armenian community, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who openly supports Azerbaijan in the conflict, and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev are primarily responsible for the escalation of the conflict.

“Aliyev dictator!

"

Under the umbrellas, many red, blue and yellow flags of Nagorno-Karabakh were raised, as well as placards and banners on which was written: "Free Artsakh!"

"," Aliyev dictator!

"," Peace in Artsakh!

"," Stop criminal Azerbaijan "," Long live the free Republic of Artsakh! "

".

Several events were organized this week in France at the call of the CCAF, notably in Valence and Marseille, where large communities of Armenian origin reside.

Fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh sharply escalated this week with strikes on the breakaway region's capital, despite several calls for a ceasefire.

According to official reports, probably very partial, the fighting that broke out on Sunday left 190 dead: 158 separatist soldiers, 13 Armenian civilians and 19 Azerbaijani civilians.

But the toll could be much heavier, Armenia claiming that 1,280 Azerbaijani soldiers have died, when Baku says it has killed 2,300 opposing soldiers.

On Friday, President Emmanuel Macron met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev, whom he again called on to declare a ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh, the Elysee said.

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  • Lyon

  • War

  • Azerbaijan

  • Karabakh

  • Demonstration

  • Armenia