Armenian Bar Association to Appeal to Azerbaijani Authorities for Access to Help Armenian Detainees

The Armenian Bar Association organized a consultation on June 24, 2021, to discuss the effectiveness of providing legal aid to Armenian prisoners of war in ongoing trials in Azerbaijan. Participants included Ara Zohrapyan, the President of the Armenian Bar Association, First Deputy President Mane Karapetyan, Deputy President Harut Aklunts, and lawyers Hayk Alumyam and Ara Ghazaryan.

Present at the consultation were Yeghishe Kirakosyan, representative of the Republic of Armenia at the European Court of Human Rights, and his deputy Liparit Drmeyan. The ECHR representative provided the lawyers with general information regarding the cases of Armenian prisoners of war currently being examined in the European Court of Human Rights.

The lawyers discussed the necessity and effectiveness of providing legal assistance to Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, as well as the need to identify and substantiate potential violations. They expressed concern that Azerbaijan would obstruct Armenian lawyers' efforts to provide legal assistance to these detainees.

As a result of the discussion, the Bar Association decided to appeal to the relevant authorities of the Republic of Armenia, the relevant authorities of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Bar Association, and other international organizations to ensure that Armenian prisoners of war receive legal assistance through Armenian lawyers, to allow the entry of Armenian lawyers into Azerbaijan, and to guarantee their safety.

Taking the above into account, we ask that by June 29, 2021, those criminal law specialization lawyers willing to provide legal assistance to Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan inform us by sending an email to [email protected]. Family members of Armenian prisoners are also encouraged to contact the Armenian Bar Association if they wish to be represented by an Armenian lawyer in Azerbaijan.