ECHR Accepts Applications of 11 Captured and 3 Detained Individuals

Lawyers Siranush Sahakyan and Artak Zeynalyan have issued a statement announcing that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has accepted the applications and applied urgent measures concerning 11 captured individuals and 3 detained persons.

The following is the statement:

“In the European Court regarding the protection of the rights of Armenian captives, during the large-scale war initiated by Azerbaijan against Artsakh in the early morning of September 27, 2020, the European Court in response to our applications has applied urgent measures on November 23 and November 27, 2020, for the protection of the rights of military personnel captured and civilian individuals detained.”

The individuals captured are: Vahe Arakelyan, Hayk Arevshatyan, Melkon Hovanisyan, Artak Stepanyan, Nairi Ghukasyan, Erik Khachatryan, Robert Vardanyan, Narek Sirunyan, Karen Manukyan, and Arayik Galstyan. The detained civilians are: Jonik Tevosyan, Edward and Areg Shahgeldyan.

The European Court has demanded from the Azerbaijani government documented information regarding the facts of their captivity, location, conditions of detention, and medical care. The court has set deadlines for the provision of the required information by November 30, 2020, and December 4, 2020, respectively.