Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

A scientific seminar titled “The Role of National Courts in the Prosecution of Persons Accused of Genocide and Other International Crimes” was held at Baku State University (BSU). The event was organized by the Faculty of Law within the framework of activities dedicated to 27 March – Science Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Dean of the Faculty of Law, Zaur Aliyev, noted that the topic of the seminar is highly relevant from the perspective of contemporary international law. He emphasized that such academic discussions are important for the investigation of international crimes, the improvement of legal mechanisms, and the enhancement of knowledge and skills of young lawyers. The dean highlighted that the seminar would be beneficial both scientifically and practically.

During the seminar, Rahim Mammadov, Deputy Dean for Scientific Affairs of the Faculty of Law, delivered a presentation. In his speech, he stated that the processes that took place in the system of international relations at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century caused serious damage to international law. It was noted that certain states and power centers, pursuing political and geopolitical interests, violated international legal norms and humanitarian values, leading to wars, armed conflicts, and acts of genocide. As a result of these processes, millions of innocent people lost their lives, and the principles of international peace and security were seriously undermined.

Rahim Mammadov stressed that the Azerbaijani people have also been victims of such aggressive policies throughout history, particularly in the 1990s, when numerous acts of genocide and war crimes were committed against the population by Armenian military-political circles. He described the genocide committed in Khojaly in February 1992 as one of the gravest crimes against humanity. The speaker also noted that as a result of the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity, creating new realities in terms of international law.

It was particularly emphasized that on February 5, a court verdict was issued against individuals accused of committing genocide, war crimes, and other grave international crimes against the Azerbaijani people. It was stated that this decision represents not only the restoration of justice but also a clear message to the international community that international crimes will not go unpunished. It was noted that Azerbaijani courts relied on both national legislation and the international treaties to which the country is a party during this process.

The seminar concluded with detailed discussions and a Q&A session.

SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)