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On September 9, dozens of representatives from Artsakh’s civil society met with the first Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno Ocampo, in a meeting organized by the Artsakh Union in Yerevan.

During the three-hour meeting, held in an intimate setting, participants exchanged views on various episodes of the genocide of the Artsakh people and the international responses to them, as well as on international mechanisms for protecting the rights of the people of Artsakh and potential courses of action, the Artsakh Union reported.

Artak Beglaryan, President of the Artsakh Union, highly appreciated Ocampo’s efforts to advocate for the rights of the Artsakh people on international platforms. He stressed the importance of systematic and consistent efforts to make effective use of existing mechanisms and opportunities.

Gegham Stepanyan, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), presented the steps being taken on international platforms, emphasizing the priorities of realizing the right of return for the people of Artsakh and securing the release of hostages.

Luis Moreno Ocampo shared his perspectives and advice on condemning the genocide of the Artsakh people and protecting their rights internationally. He specifically addressed the campaign he initiated for the release of Armenian hostages, highlighting the importance of sustained public pressure on information platforms, which could draw appropriate international attention and lead to actions ahead of the COP 29 conference.

During the exchange of ideas, Ocampo inquired about the views of Artsakh society on several fundamental issues, emphasizing the necessity for self-organization and continued struggle, noting that significant successes could be achieved through such efforts.