Ocampo: In the next three months, we have a historic opportunity to  help free Armenian hostages imprisoned in Baku and ensure  international recognition of the rights of the people of  Nagorno-Karabakh

ArmInfo. In the next three months, we have a historic opportunity to help free Armenian hostages imprisoned in Baku and ensure international recognition of the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, as stated by Luis Moreno Ocampo, former Prosecutor General of the International Criminal Court, in an  article  on his website.

According to him, the nomination period for the Nobel Peace Prize  closes on January 31, 2026. U.S.  President Donald Trump, who has  expressed his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, could be  considered for the 2026 award, and Armenians may choose to support  his nomination. In fact, more than 45 Armenians around the world  could be eligible to nominate him. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev  is effectively obstructing Donald Trump's potential path to a Nobel  Peace Prize by refusing to release Armenian hostages, and denying the  rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ocampo noted that Aliyev's actions contradict the policies Trump  advocates: On August 8, 2025 The U.S.  and Armenia signed memorandums  of understanding reaffirming America's commitment to protect Armenia  against Azerbaijani threats. Though the agreement did not mention the  hostages, Trump publicly declared-before Prime Minister Pashinyan in  the Oval Office-that he was committed to freeing the "Christians  imprisoned in Baku." He added that if he asked President Aliyev to  release them, "Aliyev will not refuse."

"On September 25, 2025, the U.S. State Department confirmed in a  letter to Congress that the Trump Administration was committed to  encouraging both sides to allow the return of ethnic Armenians to  Nagorno-Karabakh within a framework of sustainable peace.  Meanwhile,  Aliyev himself has said Trump "deserves the prize" and would nominate  him. But the Nobel Committee cannot even consider Trump's candidacy  unless Azerbaijan first releases the Armenian hostages and  acknowledges the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh's people who were victims  of Azerbaijan genocidal policies.

  On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a military attack(1)on  Nagorno-Karabakh(2), ethnic cleansing the entire Armenian population  from their ancestral lands. On September 23, 2023, the UN Special  Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, alerted a risk of genocide  against the ethnic Armenian from Nagorno-Karabakh(3).  The  International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s ordered Azerbaijan to ensure  that all "persons who wish to stay are free from the use of force or  intimidation that may cause them to flee"(4).  The UN High  Commissioner for Human Rights stated that "all those arbitrarily  detained in Azerbaijan, including ethnic Armenians, must be released  immediately,"(5) President Aliyev insists to cover up the crimes.  Last year, during the COP 29 campaign, 6,500 Armenians from 120  countries stood together online to expose Aliyev's attempt to brand  his summit as a "COP of Peace" while denying his crimes. Our  collective truth-telling changed the narrative, most of western  leaders declined to participate, and Aliyev himself complained  publicly about our campaign at the opening session.

Now, we must act again and mobilize the Armenians worldwide.  Let's  launch a new global campaign-a campaign for peace, truth, and  justice-focused on one clear message:  If Aliyev truly wants to  support Trump Nobel Peace Prize, he must:  Release all Armenian  hostages held in Baku; Sign a peace agreement with Armenia and  withdraw his troops; Accept international protection for the rights  of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.  You can support or oppose Trump's  candidacy: the campaign would inevitably expose Aliyev's behaviour.

    Only Aliyev could allow that Trump's role in ending a century-old  conflict be considered by the Nobel Committee.  Join the Campaign!   Let's unite under three hashtags: #NobelPeacePrize,  #FreeArmenianHostages, #RespectNagornoKarabakhRights

      Use them to share your voice, your thoughts, and your commitment to  truth and peace discuss, post, and engage every day until end of  January. Every Armenian voice matters," Luis Moreno Ocampo  emphasized.