The international community must remain steadfast in opposing impunity, standing with victims, survivors, and their families, supporting national accountability efforts, and countering disinformation campaigns aimed at securing the release of those responsible for the gravest crimes.

Operativ Media reports that Tale Aliyev, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN, stated this during the UN Security Council's Arria-formula meeting on "Upholding international law in situations of armed conflict."

"First of all, we would like to express our gratitude to the Permanent Mission of Pakistan for organizing this important discussion. Armed conflicts continue to be characterized by serious violations of international law and high levels of civilian casualties, as well as the deliberate or indiscriminate targeting of civilian objects and critical civilian infrastructure, including in situations of occupation," he said, adding that Azerbaijan's experience highlights the limitations of the international system.

For instance, the UN and other international organizations were unable to prevent the aggression and serious violations of international law committed against Azerbaijan, or to end the nearly three-decade-long occupation of its territories: "The primary requirement is the political will to comply with international law and ensure accountability. Certain acts in armed conflicts constitute serious crimes under international law and are prohibited by peremptory norms (jus cogens), while also involving serious breaches of obligations owed to the international community as a whole (erga omnes).

All states have obligations under international law to investigate such violations, prosecute those responsible, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. These obligations stem from a number of legally binding instruments, as well as customary international law. Accordingly, general amnesties, de facto impunity, or immunity, as well as other forms of early release for those responsible for the gravest international crimes, are incompatible with states' obligations under international law."