European Court Orders Azerbaijan to Pay Badalian €30,000 for Non-Material Damage, Zohrabyan

Naira Zohrabyan wrote on her Facebook page: A very important ruling from the European Court. Today, Azerbaijan’s serious crimes court sentenced 13 Armenian prisoners of war to six years in prison. The day before, another 17 prisoners of war were also sentenced to six years. All of them will serve their sentences in a high-security colony. This was bad news.

However, the decision made by the European Court on July 22, if we work correctly and effectively, can serve as a precedent to help protect and return Armenian prisoners of war.

Thus, Azerbaijan must pay €30,000 to Arthur Badalian, who spent two years in Azerbaijani captivity and was subjected to torture. According to the European Court’s ruling, Azerbaijan tortured and unlawfully deprived Arthur Badalian of his freedom from 2009 to 2011, when he got lost and ended up in Azerbaijani territory. The European Court has obligated Azerbaijan to pay Badalian €30,000 as compensation for non-material damage.

It is a fact that our boys are subjected to torture and humiliation in Azerbaijani prisons, even if many do not speak publicly about it. And as long as it remains unclear which organization or officials in Armenia parents can turn to for their sons held captive, we, the few individuals who engage daily with the issues of prisoners of war and those missing, must try and will be able to increase our pressure based on this European Court decision to achieve the return of all prisoners of war held in Baku and subjected to torture.