The Office of the Representative for International Legal Affairs reports: “Regarding the ongoing criminal proceedings against all Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan, including Ruben Vardanyan, the Office of the Representative for International Legal Affairs would like to remind you that as early as 2021-2024, the Republic of Armenia filed interstate complaints with both the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice to protect the rights to life, freedom from torture and other cruel and degrading treatment, fair trial, liberty and personal integrity, as well as several other rights of all Armenian prisoners of war and civilians illegally accused in Azerbaijan.
In January 2025, information and photographs regarding the persons mentioned above were received from the European Court of Human Rights, and they were rehired and transferred to their relatives. In response, the Republic of Armenia On February 27, the Court submitted its observations on the positions and information presented by the Azerbaijani side, demanding that Azerbaijan be obliged to provide more detailed information. At the same time, the Court was drawn to the violations in the trial of Ruben Vardanyan and the deterioration of his health, and additional information was requested.
In the context of the above, we recall that the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights of September 27, November 3, December 11 and 23, February 17, 2021, November 21, 2023, and November 6, 2024, which were adopted within the framework of the procedure for the application of an interim measure and relate, among other things, to the protection of the rights of captives, including those currently in Azerbaijan, are still in force.
The decisions of the International Court of Justice of The decision of December 7, 2021, by which the Court, applying interim measures against Azerbaijan, established, among other things, that Azerbaijan is obliged to protect all persons captured and held in Azerbaijan during and after the war in 2020 from violence and bodily harm, as well as to ensure their safety and equality before the law. At the same time, by its decision of October 12, 2022, the Court recorded and took note of Azerbaijan’s commitment to ensure the fulfillment of the obligations mentioned above set out in the decision of December 7, 2021, in respect of any person of Armenian origin held in Azerbaijan.
The Office of the Representative for International Legal Affairs follows the ongoing trials in Azerbaijan. We inform you that the necessary additional evidence and claims will be submitted to the European and International Court of Justice by the established procedure.
