What's Happening?
Human rights attorney Ms. Siranush Sahakyan, President of the International and Comparative Law Center in Yerevan, Armenia, is scheduled to present an analysis of the criminal trials of Armenians in Baku following the 2023 conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh.
The presentation, hosted by UCLA Law, will focus on whether participation in the civilian, political, or administrative institutions of an unrecognized entity can be deemed criminal without proof of specific individual misconduct. Ms. Sahakyan will differentiate between the Nagorno-Karabakh context, where the entity was not collectively designated as terrorist or unlawful by the United Nations or the international community, and situations where non-recognition of an unlawful territorial situation has been expressly called for. She will explore if non-recognition alone can transform ordinary civilian activities into criminal conduct. Ms. Sahakyan has extensive experience in human rights advocacy and litigation, particularly concerning war crimes, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detention, and currently represents Armenian prisoners of war and their families in international proceedings.
Why It's Important?
This event is important as it addresses critical legal and human rights issues stemming from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which saw Azerbaijan retake the region in September 2023, leading to the displacement of nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population. The discussion on the criminalization of participation in unrecognized entities' institutions has significant implications for international law and human rights. It challenges the legal basis for prosecuting individuals based solely on their involvement in the governance of a disputed territory, rather than on individual criminal acts. This could set precedents for how international bodies and national courts approach similar situations globally, particularly concerning self-determination movements or de facto administrations in conflict zones. The outcome of such legal interpretations could influence future peace negotiations, reconciliation efforts, and the protection of civilian populations in unrecognized or disputed territories, impacting the U.S.'s diplomatic efforts in conflict resolution and human rights advocacy.
What's Next?
The presentation by Ms. Sahakyan is scheduled for September 24, 2026, at UCLA Law. Following her presentation, a Q&A session will be moderated by Hadar Harris, Executive Director of The Promise Institute Los Angeles. This event is expected to generate further discussion and scrutiny regarding the legal frameworks applied to individuals from unrecognized entities, particularly in post-conflict scenarios. The insights shared could inform human rights organizations, legal scholars, and international policymakers on the complexities of prosecuting individuals in such contexts. Depending on the arguments presented and the legal community's reception, there could be calls for greater international oversight or standardized legal approaches to ensure fair trials and prevent the criminalization of political participation in disputed territories. This could also influence future U.S. foreign policy considerations regarding human rights and conflict resolution in the South Caucasus region.
Beyond the Headlines
The legal questions surrounding the criminalization of civilian leadership in unrecognized entities delve into profound ethical and legal dimensions concerning state sovereignty, self-determination, and individual rights. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict highlights the long-term shifts in international law and diplomacy when dealing with territories whose status is contested. The attempt to reframe Armenian cultural heritage as ancient Caucasian Albanian Christianity by Azerbaijan, as mentioned in the broader context of the conflict, underscores the cultural and historical erasure that often accompanies territorial disputes. This legal analysis by Ms. Sahakyan could expose the potential for legal systems to be weaponized in post-conflict environments to consolidate control and suppress dissent, raising concerns about justice and accountability. It also brings to light the challenges faced by human rights advocates in navigating complex geopolitical landscapes where historical narratives are manipulated, and the rights of displaced populations are at stake, potentially influencing the U.S.'s approach to cultural preservation and human rights in conflict zones.
