Three Individual Cases Related to Captives Enter Active Communication Phase at ECHR, Says Siranush Sahakyan

Three individual cases have entered the active communication phase at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). This was stated by Siranush Sahakyan, the president of the Center for International and Comparative Law, in a conversation with NEWS.am.

Sahakyan noted that the court has posed questions to Azerbaijan regarding the essence of the cases. “While previous inquiries concerned only the application of urgent measures, currently there are inquiries regarding the substantive issues of the case. Taking into account that the process has moved forward, we expect that there will also be communication regarding the substance of the other individual cases in the near future. The urgent measures related to those who have been repatriated have been lifted, whereas those who have not yet returned continue to be subject to urgent measures, regardless of whether Azerbaijan acknowledges this or not,” she stated.

Siranush Sahakyan specified which three cases are being addressed. “One of the cases pertains to a repatriated soldier who was tortured while in Azerbaijan. The second involves the execution of a prisoner of war by representatives of the Azerbaijani armed forces. The third relates to the violation of a serviceman's body. Interventions were made on various parts of the body, and more importantly, footage showcasing these interventions has been widely circulated, raising issues related to the inviolability of personal life and causing disproportionate pain and suffering to the relatives as well,” she emphasized.

When asked which period the cases pertain to, Sahakyan replied, “We have a case related to the September hostilities. We have a case concerning the 44-day war. We also have a case of captivity that occurred before the war.”

Sahakyan stated that the European Court has provided Azerbaijan with deadlines to present its objections.