LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kim Kardashian, along with Armenian-American physician Dr Eric Esrailian, is making a strong case for Armenia with an essay urging Presiden Joe Biden to cut off funding to Azerbaijan.
Esrailian is a reputed physician associated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also an Emmy-nominated film producer.
What is Kim Kardashian rallying about?
Kim, who is of Armenian descent, co-wrote an essay with Esrailian, in which they claimed Azerbaijan blocked the “the only lifeline between the indigenous Christian Armenians of Artsakh” and the rest of the world - the Lachin Corridor.
Dismissing Azerbaijan’s claims that those areas were occupied to ferry food and aid to the Christian Armenians of the region, Kardashian wrote they were “disingenuous at best,” per the Daily Mail.
She wrote for Rolling Stone, “'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.”
Citing the reason that since the Ukraine War, more countries were relying on Azerbaijan for oil and gas, the nation was taking a chance in its attempts to advance on Armenia.
The two nations have a past history of bitter conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh. A separatist war ended in 1994.
Kardashian claimed, “The war in Ukraine has made Azerbaijan a seemingly more favorable alternative to Russian oil and gas for some countries.”
The essay further stated, “However, 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.”
Claiming the war was supposed to end in 2020 following a ceasefire, the essay claimed Azerbaijan has continued its attacks.
They accused organizations such as the UN and EU for staying silent in the time of crisis and perpetuating the danger.
The essay read, “The collective silence or inaction by individuals, governments, and governmental organizations like the United Nations and European Union has perpetuated the crisis. Every passing day puts more lives in danger.”
The essay made a strong case against Azerbaijan by citing the UN's special report that Azerbaijan was violating the human rights of the Armenian people residing in the contested region.
Kim added that American taxpayers were "now facilitating and enabling this behavior by providing foreign aid to an oil-rich nation.”
The essay suggested solutions to the problem.
It stated, “Through economic sanctions, cutting off foreign aid to Azerbaijan, boycotting international events in Azerbaijan (such as concerts and sporting events like soccer and Formula 1), and through proceedings in international courts, we can collectively achieve results, but this process has been too slow and time is running out.”
Kim Kardashian’s Armenian ancestry
Kim's late father, Robert Kardashian, was Armenian by birth. Per Variety Magazine, Kim visited Armenia at least twice.
In 2015, she visited the nation to baptize her daughter, North West. In 2019, she went there to baptize her three other children, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.
In 2020, she even made a donation of $1M to the Armenia Fund during the clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
She shared the news with her followers with a short video message on Instagram while urging her fans to support the nation.
She said, “I’ve been speaking out about the current situation in Armenia and Artsakh and having conversations with so many others to bring further awareness to the crisis that we cannot allow to advance.”
She further stated, “My thoughts and prayers are with the brave men, women and children."
She added, "I want everyone to remember that despite the distance that separates us, we are not limited by borders and we are one global Armenian nation together.”