Another Application Submitted to the ECHR Regarding Six Armenian Servicemen Captured in Azerbaijan

On the morning of September 7, 2020, during the large-scale war initiated by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, an application was filed with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for the protection of the rights of six military servicemen who found themselves in captivity.

The individuals in captivity are Samvel Knazyan, Samvel Kastaktsyan, Hovhsep Sahakyan, Vahe Abrahamyan, Gegham Elbakyan, and Norik Arakelyan. Based on videos disseminated by Azerbaijani media, these individuals have been identified, or their captivity has been confirmed through calls or messages made to family members from their phones.

Applications have been submitted to the European Court on behalf of the families of the Armenian captives, demanding urgent measures for the protection of their rights to life and protection from inhumane treatment. The European Court has requested documented information from the Azerbaijani government regarding their whereabouts, conditions of detention, and medical care.

The court has set a deadline for providing the required information until November 13, 2020, as reported by Armenia's former Minister of Justice and human rights defender Artak Zeynalyan.