STEPANAKERT, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS/ARTSAKHPRESS: Luis Moreno Ocampo, a leading specialist in international law, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and lecturer at Harvard and Yale universities, responded to the letter of the President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Arayik Harutyunyan, in which the President requested an expert opinion on whether the deepening blockade in Artsakh corresponds to the crime of genocide.

In an interview with Artsakhpress, Lusine Avanesyan, the press secretary of the Artsakh Republic said that Mr. Ocampo has sent a reply letter to the President, in which he specifically wrote:

''Dear President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan

“Thank you very much for your request to provide my opinion regarding the current situation of Nagorno-Karabakh. It would be my honor to analyze the problem and provide you with my conclusion.

“I will prepare a comprehensive report analyzing the facts and the law. My assessment will be impartial and produced on a pro bono basis.

“To reach a conclusion regarding the commission of a genocide, I must analyze the Azerbaijan leaders’ intentions. Intention could be deduced from the facts, but to safeguard my accuracy and impartiality, I will write to the Azerbaijan President offering him the opportunity to clarify his position directly.

“Given the situation’s urgency and the risk of starvation for 120.000 Armenians, I plan to issue my report in 7 days.

“Please don’t hesitate to communicate any new circumstance that could affect the situation in analysis.

Yours,  Luis Moreno Ocampo''

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.