Leaked Recordings Expose Anti-Azerbaijan Campaign Led by Former ICC Prosecutor

A series of video recordings recently published by Azerbaijani media has revealed what appears to be a coordinated campaign against Azerbaijan, orchestrated by former International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and his associates.

The recordings, which have sent ripples through diplomatic circles, show Ocampo candidly discussing influence operations targeting Azerbaijan while leveraging connections within European institutions, including those allegedly linked to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

According to the exposed conversations, what began as advocacy has evolved into what sources describe as a “multi-level media, political, and financial operation” designed not only to pressure Azerbaijan but potentially destabilize the wider South Caucasus region.

Financial backing for these activities reportedly originated from Armenian sources before expanding to include wealthy diaspora representatives, primarily from Russia. Sources familiar with the matter identify Russian-Armenian businessmen Samvel Karapetyan and Ruben Vardanyan as possible financial contributors, though the funding mechanisms appear deliberately designed for anonymity.

The most troubling aspect of the revelations may be Ocampo’s discussion of potential interference in Armenia’s internal affairs, including what some interpret as regime change scenarios. This suggests the operation extends beyond mere advocacy into more direct political intervention.

Following the initial reports, formal inquiries were directed to European institutions, including the European Parliament, seeking clarification on Ocampo’s potential connections with European officials and whether investigations into lobbying, conflicts of interest, and corruption risks would be launched. According to Azerbaijani officials, these inquiries have gone unanswered, with Brussels maintaining silence on the matter.

The latest materials released by Azerbaijani media include recordings where Ocampo discusses deploying artificial intelligence technologies in what he terms “the Armenia project.” In the recordings, Ocampo explains his work with the University of São Paulo in Brazil, describing how supercomputers are being used to model what he calls “global order and global disorder.”

“Let’s deal with Nagorno-Karabakh, because I have a lot of information,” Ocampo is heard saying in the recordings. “Now I see this as an academic product; it’s an academic project, and I must get the maximum benefit out of it.”

The former prosecutor further elaborates on plans to build a “company that crosses borders,” specifically designed to transform information into a format that can influence “politicians and decision-makers” through mainstream media, social networks, and academic channels.

These revelations raise significant questions about the weaponization of information and the use of advanced technologies to amplify political pressure campaigns. What Ocampo appears to be describing is a sophisticated operation that blends traditional lobbying with modern computational methods to maximize impact.

The Azerbaijan-Armenia context is particularly sensitive following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and Azerbaijan’s subsequent military operation in 2023 that resulted in the dissolution of the breakaway region’s self-declared government. These conflicts have left deep scars in the region, with accusations of human rights violations on both sides.

The timing of these leaks coincides with Azerbaijan’s hosting of the COP29 climate conference, raising questions about whether the release is part of a counter-strategy by Baku to neutralize international criticism during a period of heightened global attention.

Experts in regional affairs note that this case highlights the increasingly complex nature of modern influence operations, where traditional diplomacy intersects with technological tools, academic partnerships, and diaspora networks to shape international narratives and policy outcomes.

Azerbaijan has indicated it will continue pressing European institutions for responses, though observers remain skeptical that Brussels will engage substantively with the allegations given the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding European energy relationships with both Azerbaijan and Russia.