The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh's Memo Distributed as an Official Document at the UN

On November 15, the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh's memo regarding Azerbaijan's international responsibility for particularly serious crimes committed in Artsakh by Azerbaijani citizens Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilham Askerov was distributed as an official document at the United Nations (UN).

The memo specifically states that international law provides for the responsibility of states for crimes committed by their agents. This norm of international law is codified in Article 8 of the United Nations International Law Commission's report on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, which states that 'the conduct of a person or group of persons shall be considered an act of the state under international law if that person or group of persons was in fact acting on the instructions of, or under the direction or control of, that state'.

Thus, unlawful acts of individuals sent abroad to carry out certain assignments as 'volunteers' imply international responsibility for states. By arming and sending a criminal group into the territory of Artsakh for the purpose of conducting espionage and diversionary actions, Azerbaijan bears international responsibility for all unlawful acts committed by the group in the territory of Artsakh.

The memo provides detailed evidence confirming the direct link between the illegal armed group and Azerbaijan's special services. It also notes that the campaign launched by Azerbaijani authorities in various international organizations, including the UN, aimed at seeking support for the release of Askerov and Guliyev, can also be viewed as evidence of Azerbaijan's recognition and acceptance of the illegal acts of the armed group.