FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Center for Truth and
Justice establishes an educational partnership between the University of Iowa and
the Artsakh State University

Los Angeles, CA (February 21, 2023) – In the
midst of a blockade, the Center for Truth and Justice ("CFTJ")
establishes an educational partnership between the University of Iowa and the
Artsakh State University.

CFTJ is proud to announce the realization of
this collaboration – a direct outcome of the international human rights
conference organized by CFTJ held in Yerevan, Armenia. It was back in June of
2022, while being in Armenia, that the honorable guest speaker, Professor Elke
Heckner, expressed the intent to establish a partnership between the University
of Iowa and Artsakh State University. Through the efforts of Associate Provost
and Dean of International Programs Russ Ganim, Professor Heckner, and CFTJ Conference
committee member Arsiné Grigoryan, Esq., a Memorandum of Understanding was
signed by the above two universities.

“The University of Iowa is proud to
collaborate with Artsakh State University under the auspices of this new
Memorandum of Understanding,” remarked Dean Ganim.  “Our purpose is to connect faculty and
students on issues regarding human rights and social justice in conflict zones
around the world.  We look forward to
learning about and from Artsakh as the partnership grows.”

The timing of this historic event is even more
impactful since Artsakh is in the midst of a blockade by Azerbaijan. On
December 12, 2022, Azerbaijan blocked the only highway, referred to as the
Lachin Corridor, connecting Stepanakert to Yerevan, and essentially to the rest
of the world. For over 70 days now, 120,000 residents, including 30,000
children are deprived of food, medicine and other basic supplies they are in
dire need of. Hospitals have indefinitely put surgeries on hold. Schools have
been closed due to the shortages. Additionally, vital services like
electricity, gas, and internet shut offs during the freezing winter
temperatures have created more hardships for these residents.

“For the Artsakh State University, this
extraordinary collaboration is immeasurably important, with such prestigious
universities like the University of Iowa, especially in these trying times that
Artsakh is in a total blockade and such collaborations open a window of
opportunity to the civil world,” said Vitya Yaramishyan, Vice-rector of Artsakh
State University as he signed the MOU. “This partnership between two
institutions will undoubtedly bring about significant progress in the promotion
and protection of human rights in Artsakh and beyond,” stated Ms. Grigoryan.

CFTJ is a US-based non-profit organization
formed in November 2020 immediately following the 44-Day War in Artsakh. CFTJ
is not affiliated with any political or governmental organization and is
entirely independent. CFTJ’s team of attorneys built a fact-finding
infrastructure in Armenia and Artsakh, to gather testimonial evidence from
victims of war-related human rights and humanitarian abuses. CFTJ has collected
more than 400 testimonies from witnesses including returned POWs, displaced
individuals, and victims of prohibited methods of warfare. CFTJ's mission is to
create a living memorial to crimes against humanity, for purposes of education
and legal action.

Center for Truth &
Justice is a registered 501(c)(3)

 Federal Tax ID: 87-1681664

2100 Montrose Ave., #715, Montrose, CA 91020
(213)557-1109

Media Contact: Meline Mailyan, Esq.