David Lammy sparks diplomatic row with blog post on Armenia crisis

James Crisp
David Lammy
David Lammy made reference to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in a recent newsletter - Justin Ng/Avalon

David Lammy has been branded “highly improper” and “callous” after writing that Azerbaijan had been able to “liberate” territory in a conflict described as ethnic cleansing.

The Foreign Secretary’s recent blog post led Armenia’s ambassador to urgently seek clarification on the apparent change in the Government’s position over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

It was internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but governed by ethnic Armenians, who represent the vast majority of people there and declared it the breakaway state of Artsakh.

After Azeri forces subjected Nagorno-Karabakh to a nine-month blockade, they attacked in September 2023 in a violation of a ceasefire deal agreed after a war in 2020.

Some 100,400 ethnic Armenians, making up 99 per cent of the population, fled following threats of ethnic cleansing. After the invasion, there were allegations of war crimes, including the murder of Armenian civilians.

The ghost city of Stepanakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh region
The ghost city of Stepanakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh region - Osama Bin Javaid/Al Jazeera
Ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh cross the border with Azerbaijan in September last year
Ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh cross the border with Azerbaijan - ANATOLY MALTSEV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

At the time, Mr Lammy said on social media that “Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians must be guaranteed safety and dignity” and called for human rights and international law to be respected.

But in his recent Substack newsletter, he wrote that “Azerbaijan has been able to liberate territory it lost in the early 1990s”.

Alicia Kearns, the conservative MP and former chairman of the foreign affairs committee, said: “This marks a significant shift in the UK’s language and position. It’s highly improper to change UK policy via a blog. Urgent clarity is needed as to why this comment was published.”

“Encouraging Azerbaijan and Armenia to agree a historic peace treaty is a diplomatic priority, with provisions made for displaced ethnic Armenians to resettle safely in Nagorno-Karabakh,” she wrote on social media.

Ms Kearns added: “Contradicting long-standing UK policy in a vanity blog is totally inappropriate and throws into question the Foreign Secretary’s judgement.”

The remains of a house in Terter destroyed during the 2020 war between Azerbaijan and Armenia
The remains of a house in Terter destroyed in the 2020 war between Azerbaijan and Armenia - EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Mark Movsesian, the Frederick A. Whitney Professor and director of the Mattone Center for Law and Religion at St John’s University Law School, told GB News he was shocked.

“The Foreign Secretary’s reference to Azerbaijan’s ‘liberation’ of Nagorno-Karabakh is shockingly callous and ignorant,” he said.

“In fact, exactly a year ago, Baku ethnically cleansed the region of its 120,000 Christian Armenian inhabitants in violation of an order from the International Court of Justice.”

The Telegraph understands Mr Lammy’s post does not signal a change in UK policy.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The UK supports the territorial integrity of both Armenia and Azerbaijan and is encouraged by both sides engaging in meaningful dialogue. We will continue to support their commitment to lasting peace in the region.”

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