Information of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the UN report on misuse by Armenia of non-profit organizations and charities for corruption, money laundering and financing of terrorism

The report prepared by the Azerbaijani side entitled "Armenia's misuse of non-profit organizations and charities for corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing" has been released as an official document of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.

The report states that during the 44-day Patriotic War and after it, the government of Armenia, through the Armenian diaspora organizations operating in many countries, under the guise of humanitarian aid, using international financial payment systems, organized illegal fundraising campaigns, and the funds collected within the framework of these campaigns, were used to finance terrorist activities against the civilian population in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan.

The report, prepared on the basis of statements by Armenian government officials and data from Armenian public sources, states that during the Patriotic War alone, organizations of the Armenian diaspora living in 73 countries collected more than $170 million, of which $110 million were transferred to the state budget of Armenia to cover military expenses. This fact was reflected in the speech of the Prime Minister of Armenia on April 21, 2021 to the Armenian Parliament on the implementation of the state budget for 2020.

Such fundraising campaigns, organized and managed by the “Hayastan All Armenian Fund”, most of which is represented by the Armenian political leadership, continue even after the November 10, 2020 trilateral declaration signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declares that such activity, directed against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan and creating illegal financial flows to its territory, is a gross violation of the national legislation not only of Azerbaijan, but also of those countries in which the relevant organizations of the Armenian diaspora are registered, as well as existing international obligations in the field of combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on all UN member states to take effective countermeasures in the framework of their international obligations in regards to organizations registered in their territories and engaged in such illegal activities against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.