PROBLEMS OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MILITARY AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF AZERBAIJAN FOR THE GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH, ON THE PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION
HAYK GRIGORYAN
The Academic Member of the Supreme Judicial Council of
the Republic of Armenia, Doctor of law
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59546/18290744-2023.10-12-110
Annotation.
The article examines the international legal prohibitions on the commission of genocide established by the international fundamental principles of jus cogens, examines the correlation of such international fundamental principles as the right of peoples to self-determination and the inviolability of borders. It describes the content of the lawsuits in the case “Armenia vs Azerbaijan”, which were filed by Armenia to the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, with a request for the application of temporary measures to protect the rights of residents of NagornoKarabakh, enshrined in the “International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination”. The legal analysis of the principle of universal jurisdiction is carried out. The author substantiates the possibility of applying universal jurisdiction in cases of crimes of genocide and provides examples of the judicial practice of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), as well as the courts of Israel, Denmark, Bavaria (Germany), Rotterdam, The Hague (Netherlands), Lausanne (Switzerland), Great Britain. The article analyzes the international legal and organizational problems of bringing to criminal responsibility representatives of the military and political leadership of Azerbaijan for committing the crime of genocide of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Due to the fact that currently it is possible to bring to justice representatives of the military and political leadership of another State only at the international level, the possibility of accepting the investigation of crimes against the peace and security of mankind, including the crime of genocide, by both the ICC and the national court of another State is being considered.