Kim Kardashian Urges Biden to ‘Stop Another Armenian Genocide’

Kim Kardashian is calling on President Joe Biden to intervene in a potential genocide in Armenia. Kardahsian penned a joint essay with Dr. Eric Esrailian titled, "Kim Kardashian: My Plea to Joe Biden to Stop Another Armenian Genocide"

"WE ARE ARMENIAN. We are the descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors, and we do not want to be talking about the recognition or commemoration of yet another genocide in the future," the pair began in the gripping message published by Rolling Stone on Friday.

They went on to explain: "Since December of last year, Azerbaijan has blockaded the only lifeline between the indigenous Christian Armenians of Artsakh (also known as Nagorno-Karabakh) and the rest of the world. For many years, they have been dependent on the transport of food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid through the Lachin Corridor."

They added that although the ongoing war in Ukraine has led to Azerbaijan, instead of Russia, being a go-to commodity in offering oil and gas, "this reliance has emboldened the autocratic Azeri government to use starvation as a weapon against the Armenian population in the region. There is no more time for thoughts, prayers, or concern."

They looked back at the war that ensued after Azerbaijan's attack on Armenians in 2020, a move they describe as baseless and unjustified, and said it has "never ended in the minds of Armenians around the world."

"Despite a ceasefire agreement, the attacks on Armenian soldiers have been constant and without repercussions," the essay continued.

They also point out that indications of a forthcoming genocide are present as human rights groups like the International Committee of the Red Cross have been blocked, along with "hateful rhetoric accompanying the blockade."

Though Azerbaijan's leaders and state that other routes are available amid the blockade, Kardashian and Esrailian state that the suggestion is "disingenuous at best. More likely, it will signal the beginning of the end for Armenians and Christians in Artsakh."

They call out the government after multiple people have died, adding, "it will only get worse without immediate action. For those who survive, the trauma will be permanent."

Genocide watchdog groups have also spoken up and "have been trying to alert the world about these impeding atrocities for months" the essay said. Specifically, a report from Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, determined that genocide is imminent. "There is a reasonable basis to believe that a genocide is being committed,” Ocampo’s report said, according to the AP. Ocampo noted that a U.N. convention defines genocide as "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction."

The University Network for Human Rights has worked with Harvard Law School Advocates for Human Rights, UCLA's Promise Institute for Human Rights, Wesleyan University, and the Lowenstein Project at Yale University, and conducted research that backs Kardashian's concerns.

Stating that "the collective silence or inaction" by people and government entities "has perpetuated the crisis," the essay called on Biden, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken "to take a stand immediately. They must pressure Azerbaijan to open the corridor without preconditions."

"We are just two people. We have been working behind the scenes to support our Armenian brothers and sisters, but this diplomatic approach has not yielded meaningful results," wrote Kardashian and Esrailian, later adding, "This crisis will clearly not be remedied by individuals, but we will continue to do what we can to use whatever influence we have."

They concluded, "The people in Artsakh want to live in peace. Now is the time for true leadership."