Armenians Should Not Be Collateral Victims in the Ukrainian Conflict: Ocampo

According to the Geneva Conventions, one of the forms of genocide is the creation of conditions for the physical destruction of a group, which is occurring as a result of the blockade of the Lachin corridor. This was stated by independent international expert and first chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo during an online conference dedicated to the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan.

He noted that the International Criminal Court had decided that the Lachin corridor should be opened, but the Azerbaijani side has ignored this. According to him, the announcement by the International Committee of the Red Cross confirms that it is impossible to transport food and medicine through the corridor; famine is also a form of genocide, and that the responsibility to prevent this lies with the UN Security Council.

“Russia, France, and the United States must do what is necessary to change the situation, even though the Ukrainian conflict has diverted their attention,” he said, adding that Armenians should not become collateral victims of the Ukrainian conflict. “Biden recognized the genocide of 1915, and now it is necessary to prevent a new genocide,” the expert emphasized. Ocampo pointed out that Azerbaijan refuses to comply with the court's decision to open the Lachin corridor and that the UN should take action on this issue.