Students to Take Part in Moot Court Hearings on Trial of 23 Artsakh Armenian Prisoners in Baku
By Special to The California Courier
On January 27, 2026, the World Affairs Council of Austin will mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day by hosting the *Texas State Moot Preliminary International Criminal Court Hearings Championship. This event is not only a commemoration of history but also a call to action for the present, as students engage directly with questions of justice, sovereignty, and human rights.
This year’s case centers on the trial of 23 Artsakh citizens in Baku, Azerbaijan. Students will argue that these proceedings are illegal under international law, building their case on three pillars:
- Artsakh qualifies as a legal country under the Montevideo Convention and ICJ precedent.
- Sovereignty grants Artsakh exclusive jurisdiction over its citizens.
- Sovereign immunity protects Artsakh’s officials and citizens from prosecution under Azerbaijani law.
By examining these points, students will confront the reality that when miscarriages of justice are allowed to go unchecked, the rule of law everywhere is undermined.
Michael Cunningham, Director of the Global Scholars Diploma Program, explained the vision behind the project: “This is a masterclass in 21st‑century education. We cannot rely on outdated or irrelevant data to guide our understanding of justice. Students must learn from the lessons unfolding right before our eyes.”
The event will feature international evaluators, student judges, and student attorneys, who will present arguments, undergo questioning, and deliver closing statements in a format modeled after ICJ preliminary hearings.
To prepare, students are studying two featured resources:
The World Affairs Council of Austin sees this initiative as more than a competition. It is a living classroom, where remembrance of past atrocities meets the urgent need to confront present injustices. On January 27, students will not only honor the victims of the Holocaust but also demonstrate how education can safeguard the principles of justice for generations to come.
