* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive
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Armeni̇a has applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and complained that "Turkey provided assistance to the Azerbaijani armed forces during the conflict", thereby violating human rights.
Issuing a press release yesterday (May 18), the ECtHR has announced the application of Armeni̇a regarding the alleged violations during the conflicts between Armeni̇a and Azerbaijan last year briefly as follows:
"The completed application form now received in the inter-State case of Armenia v. Turkey opens the proceedings on the complaints about alleged violations of the Convention. The first matter for the Court to examine is the admissibility of the application.
"As an initial step, and in accordance with Rule 51 § 1 (assignment of applications and subsequent procedure), the President of the Court has assigned the case to the Third Section and given notice of the application to the respondent State."
Armeni̇a and Azerbaijan also filed inter-state cases against one another over the alleged violations in Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Reception of the inter-State application Armenia v. Turkey https://t.co/uzGzjKk9f7#ECHR #CEDH #ECHRpress
— ECHR CEDH (@ECHR_CEDH) May 18, 2021
The related chamber of the ECtHR has recently transferred these cases to be heard by the ECtHR Grand Chamber, which consists of 17 judges, normally examines the appeals against the ECtHR judgements and which also hears difficult and complicated cases.
ECtHR made a call to all states
The ECtHR has shared the following background information as to Armeni̇a's application to the ECtHR and the developments ensuing the armed conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh in the Caucasus:
"The case concerns the respondent State's alleged role in the recent armed hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan which took place between 27 September and 10 November 2020 (the date of entry into force of a ceasefire agreement). Notably, Armenia alleges that Turkey provided assistance to the Azerbaijani armed forces during the conflict.
"Previously, on 4 October 2020 the Court received a request for an interim measure introduced by Armenia against Turkey in relation to the above inter-State case. On 6 October 2020 the Court, applying Rule 39 of the Rules of Court for a second time in relation to the conflict between Armeni̇a and Azerbaijan, called on all States directly or indirectly involved in the conflict, including Turkey, to refrain from actions that would contribute to breaches of the Convention rights of civilians and to respect their obligations under the Convention.
"On 17 November 2020 the Government of Turkey requested that the Court lift the interim measure in relation to the inter-State case of Armenia v. Turkey. They referred, in particular, to a statement signed on 9 November 2020 by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the President of the Russian Federation, declaring an end to the hostilities with effect from midnight on 10 November 2020. On 1 December 2020 the Court decided, in the light of the information provided by the Government of Turkey, to lift the interim measure previously indicated on 6 October 2020.
"The other decisions taken by the Court under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court with regard to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain in force."
7 cities deprived of their status
Relations between the two former Soviet republics, Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan, over Upper Karabakh have remained tense since 1991, however, fresh clashes broke out on September 27, 2020.
The conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, two neighboring countries in the South Caucasus, ended after a Russia-brokered agreement on November 10, when President Vladimir Putin announced that Azerbaijan and Armenia had signed a deal to end the conflict in the region.
After Armeni̇a withdrew from the territory it had lost, the Peace Forces of Russia have been stationed in the region. The agreement also foresees that Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 cities will no longer have any status. In other words, the de-facto rule of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which was not internationally recognized, has ended after 28 years.
Azerbaijan has allowed the civilian population of Armenia to stay in Hankendi, Hocalı, Hocavend and Ağdere residential areas in Nagorno-Karabakh on the condition that they become citizens of Azerbaijan.
About the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute
Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region of approximately 4,400 square kilometers in the Caucasus between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Relations between the two former Soviet countries have been tense since 1989 over Nagorno-Karabakh, or Upper Karabakh, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan populated mostly by Armenians. In 1989, the parliament of Azerbaijan removed Nagorno-Karabakh's autonomous status, which had been in place since 1923. During the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armenia began military operations into Nagorno-Karabakh in 1991. In the same year, the separatist administration in Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence. The Azeri people of the region had boycotted the independence referendum. The independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh, or Artsakh republic, is not recognized by any United Nations member state, including Armenia. Four United Nations (UN) Security Council and two UN General Assembly resolutions as well as many international organizations demand the withdrawal of the occupying forces. The OSCE Minsk Group – co-chaired by France, Russia and the US – was formed in 1992 to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. A cease-fire was agreed upon in 1994. France, Russia and NATO, among others, have urged an immediate halt to clashes in the occupied region. During the conflict between the years 1988-1994, about one million people were displaced and 30,000 were killed. |
(PT/SD)
