The Republic of Armenia quite actively implemented various international legal structures and mechanisms immediately after the war, which significantly support the general diplomatic efforts. The RA Representative on International Legal Matters at the European Court of Human Rights Yeghishe Kirakosyan said this at the extraordinary sitting of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations on March 24.
According to Yeghishe Kirakosyan, the RA is submitting a number of interstate complaints to the European Court at the moment. 4 interstate complaints were submitted against Azerbaijan. The first complaint was submitted at the beginning of 2021 and refers to mass violations committed during the war: later some addenda were introduced. The Armenian side had to submit new complaints to the European Court regarding the aggressive actions carried out by Azerbaijan. The second interstate complaint Armenia v. Azerbaijan concerns the illegal trials of the captives. The third complaint refers to the presence and occupation of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the RA sovereign territory and the violations of people’s rights as a result. The fourth complaint is about Nagorno Karabakh, the unblocking of the Lachin Corridor. According to the key rapporteur, the works are still ongoing and the updates are presented regularly.
Touching upon the ongoing legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice, Yeghishe Kirakosyan noted that Armenia has filed an interstate lawsuit against Azerbaijan based on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. He mentioned that continuous monitoring is being carried out. Yeghishe Kirakosyan referred to the requirement to apply an interim or temporary measure presented by the Court on unblocking the Lachin Corridor. “On January 30 and 31, 2023, hearings were held at The Hague Court, the result of which was the well-known decision of February 22, and by which the Court made the decision to apply a temporary measure known to the public,” he said.
The RA Representative on International Legal Matters informed that the propaganda of hatred, anti-Armenian campaign and racism by high-ranking officials of Azerbaijan is the core of the case investigated by the International Court of Justice. Systematic evidence of anti-Armenian institutional policy was presented to the Court.
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National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia