Human Rights Defenders to Submit Application to ECHR Regarding Individuals Detained and Missing in Recent Days

Following the military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan on November 16, urgent applications will be sent to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding individuals who have been detained and are considered missing, human rights defender Siranush Sahakyan reported in a conversation with Armenpress.

"We are receiving information from the families of both missing and detained individuals and are investigating the cases. Of course, applications for urgent measures will be sent to the ECHR; there are processes in this regard. We will also take into account ongoing processes within the context of inter-state complaints to prevent recurrence," Sahakyan stated.

According to her, the primary issue is to ensure the physical safety and protection of these individuals' lives. The European Court does not apply urgent measures in the form of releases; however, Sahakyan reminded about the processes at the UN International Court of Justice. Armenia has submitted a request for urgent measures against Azerbaijan at the UN court, demanding alongside other requests the immediate return of Armenian prisoners of war and the closure of the military wreckage park. "We hope to have a legal decision on this issue within the next few weeks," Sahakyan said.

Following Azerbaijan's provocations on November 16, around ten families of individuals considered missing and detained are currently in contact with human rights defenders. "The applications are in the preparation phase. We will submit them to the ECHR in the coming days, either tomorrow or the day after at the latest," she noted.

Human rights defenders are currently working intensively. There are confirmed cases of detention with video evidence, and individuals are missing. "The circumstances of the disappearances largely point to abductions," Siranush Sahakyan added.

This issue is being handled by Siranush Sahakyan and Artak Zeynalyan, with involvement from Armenia's representative to the ECHR, Yeghishe Kirakosyan, due to the inter-state complaint.