Former International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, in a video message posted on X, stated that Armenia cannot obstruct the investigation into crimes committed against Armenians after May 2021. Ocampo emphasized that while Armenia has the right to withdraw cases from the ICC, the prosecutor still has the authority to investigate crimes from the moment the court’s jurisdiction began, which is May 10, 617, and for one year after the withdrawal.
This statement is significant because it pertains to the aftermath of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. In May 2021, Armenia formally referred the conflict to the ICC, requesting an investigation into alleged war crimes committed after September 27, 2020. However, Armenia ratified the Rome Statute in June 2022, granting the ICC jurisdiction to investigate genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Ocampo’s statement clarifies that the ICC has jurisdiction not only over crimes committed during the 2020 war but also over those committed afterward, including the events of 2021-2022. This could pertain to alleged crimes against both Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
It is crucial for Armenia to cooperate with the ICC to ensure justice is served and that those responsible for crimes against humanity are held accountable. The international community must continue to monitor this process and support the ICC in its work. Ocampo’s clarification underscores the ICC’s ongoing role in investigating alleged atrocities related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its aftermath.