Armenia to provide additional evidence to international courts on sham trials of Armenians in Azerbaijan

Armenia continues its efforts in international courts to protect the rights of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan, the Office of the Representative on International Legal Matters said in a statement issued Friday.

According to the statement, from 2021 to 2024, the Office of the Representative on International Legal Matters, regarding the criminal proceedings against all Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan, including Ruben Vardanyan, filed interstate complaints on behalf of the Republic of Armenia with both the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice. These complaints aimed to protect their rights, including the right to life, freedom from torture and other cruel and degrading treatment, fair trial, liberty, personal immunity, and several other fundamental rights.

"In January 2025, information and photographs regarding the above-mentioned persons were received through the European Court of Human Rights and were transferred to their relatives. In response, on February 27, 2025, the Republic of Armenia submitted its observations on the positions and information presented by the Azerbaijani side, demanding that Azerbaijan be required to provide more detailed information.

At the same time, the Court's attention was drawn to violations in the trial of Ruben Vardanyan and the deterioration of his health condition, and additional information was requested," reads the statement, reaffirming that the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights issued on September 27, November 3, December 11, and December 23, 2020; February 17, 2021; November 21, 2023; and November 6, 2024, which were adopted within the framework of the procedure for the application of interim measures and concern, among other matters, the protection of the rights of captive persons, including those currently held in Azerbaijan, remain in force.

The decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of December 7, 2021, remains in force. In this decision, the Court, applying interim measures against Azerbaijan, determined, among other things, that Azerbaijan is obliged to protect all persons captured and held in Azerbaijan during and after the 2020 war 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 noted Azerbaijan's commitment to ensuring the fulfillment of the above-mentioned obligations put forward by the decision of December 7, 2021, with respect to any person of Armenian origin detained in Azerbaijan.

The Office of the Representative on International Legal Matters is closely monitoring the ongoing trials in Azerbaijan. The Office informs that additional necessary evidence and claims will be submitted to the European Court and the International Court of Justice in accordance with established procedures,'' the statement reads.