Hague Court's Urgent Measures Are Legally Binding, Yet Azerbaijan Has Not Complied, Says Armenian Permanent Representative

On March 2, during a session of the OSCE, initiated by the Armenian delegation, the agenda included the issue of the "Decision of the International Court of Justice regarding the Lachin Corridor," with numerous country delegations emphasizing the absolute necessity of implementing the court's decision.

During the session, Armenia's Permanent Representative Armen Papikyan elaborated on the decision made by the International Court of Justice, which established that there is an immediate risk of causing irreparable harm to the rights of Armenians within the framework of the "International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination". The court mandated Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to ensure the unobstructed movement of persons, vehicles, and goods in both directions along the Lachin Corridor.

Papikyan also noted that the court fully rejected Azerbaijan's request to take urgent measures, thereby dismissing Azerbaijan's fabricated rhetoric regarding mines aimed at Armenia. The ambassador emphasized that the urgent measures of the International Court of Justice are legally binding; however, Azerbaijan has not ceased the blockade of the Lachin Corridor.

He indicated that Azerbaijan has blocked the Lachin Corridor for approximately 80 days, which is the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the outside world. Azerbaijan has also disrupted electricity supply and frequently interrupted gas supply, leading the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh to the brink of a humanitarian disaster.

At the same time, Azerbaijan is making statements at the highest level that it can lift the blockade for those who wish to leave Nagorno-Karabakh. This is nothing but a slow-moving ethnic cleansing policy and a blatant disregard for the implementation of the International Court of Justice's ruling.

Ambassador Papikyan specifically noted that despite Azerbaijan's ongoing claims, the Court has explicitly used the term Nagorno-Karabakh in its decision. The Court has reaffirmed the principle of universality of human rights, which must be strictly protected everywhere, regardless of the political status of the territory in which a people reside.

He highly appreciated the clear statements of several organizations and countries regarding the international court's decision and emphasized the necessity for relevant OSCE engagement in addressing the humanitarian crisis within its area of responsibility.