Armenia Submits Enhanced Application to ECHR, Says Head of International Legal Affairs Office

The Office of International Legal Affairs has submitted a complaint not only to the European Court but also to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This was stated by the head of the Office, Liparit Drmeyan, during a press conference held today, December 16.

"We have applied to the International Court of Justice via a letter, requesting that our position be conveyed to Azerbaijan that the Berdzor corridor must be unblocked within 48 hours to ensure freedom of movement for individuals," he stated.

According to Drmeyan, if Azerbaijan fails to meet this demand, a new application for the imposition of preliminary measures will be submitted. "We had filed one application in 2021 under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which was accepted and included several components such as the cessation of hate speech, conducting investigations, the preservation of historical and cultural monuments, and the protection of the rights of prisoners of war. This was submitted to the International Court of Justice two days ago, and literally within minutes we received notification from the court that it has been conveyed to Azerbaijan," the head of the Office of International Legal Affairs explained.

Referring to the application submitted to the ECHR, Drmeyan said that the request for interim measures includes two components: the complete unblocking of the road and the identification of individuals who urgently need to be transported to Armenia. "After sending our application, we received a letter from the court 1-2 hours later, stating that Azerbaijan has been granted until Monday at 16:00 to respond to our demand," he noted.

Addressing the practice, the expert mentioned that while Azerbaijan responded passively to requests for interim measures during the especially active phase of the 44-day war, it has reacted quickly or at least provided information regarding legal processes initiated in the post-war period. "This demonstrates that these processes have a certain impact," he added.

It should be noted that the European Court has made a decision regarding Armenia's request for interim measures. According to this decision, Azerbaijan has been given time until Monday, December 19, at 16:00 (French time) to respond to Armenia's demand, after which the Court will make a final decision.

Additionally, on the morning of December 12, a group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothes blocked the Stepanakert-Goris highway connecting Artsakh to Armenia under the pretext of environmental concerns at the intersection near Shushi-Karin Tak. More than 1,100 people, including 270 minors, are unable to return to their homes. Since December 13, the Azerbaijani side has also cut off gas supply to Artsakh, creating serious difficulties for the population during the heating season.