Lawyers of both sides address ECtHR hearing on Azerbaijani IDPs’ claims against Armenia

The evidences showing that Armenia is an occupier country and is cooperating with separatist “Nagorno Karabakh” regime were submitted

 

Strasbourg. Fuad Gulubeyli – APA. Lawyers of both sides made speeches at the hearing that took place as a part of the meeting of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) Grand Chamber on the claims put forward by Azerbaijani IDPs against Armenia.

 

APA’s Europe bureau reports that the Armenian lawyers didn’t agree with the claim that introduced the Armenian state as a responder.

 

They said that though “Nagorno Karabakh Republic” is not recognized, it has its own judicial system, state agencies and the claim should be put forward against “Nagorno Karabakh”

 

The lawyers tried to prove that Armenia’s commitment to “Nagorno Karabakh” is only related with providing inhabitants with the national passports, which will allow them traveling abroad.

 

Lawyers Malcolm Shaw, Urdaneta Vitek, Gabirel Lansky and Hans Tretter, who are protecting Azerbaijanis’ interests, said that the occupied Nagorno Karabakh and adjacent regions are actually controlled by Armenia. In addition, the evidences showing that Armenia is an occupier country and is cooperating with separatist “Nagorno Karabakh” regime were submitted.

 

The lawyers answered judges’ questions.

 

The hearing was adjourned.

 

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13:23

 

 The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has started considering Azerbaijanis’ claims against Armenia.

 

APA’s Europe bureau reports that the issue “Chiragov and others v. Armenia” of Azerbaijani IDPs from Nagorno Karabakh is being considered by Luxembourgian Dean Spielmann at the ECtHR Grand Chamber.

 

21 judges, including ECtHR judges Khanlar Hajiyev from Azerbaijan and Alvina Gulumyan from Armenia are attending the hearing.

 

Azerbaijan is officially being represented by its authorized representative in ECtHR Chingiz Asgarov.

 

Azerbaijanis’ interests are being protected by Chief Advisor of the Department to Work with law enforcement agencies of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Otari Gvaladze, lawyers Malcolm Shaw, Urdaneta Vitek, Gabirel Lansky and Hans Tretter. From the Armenian side, an official representative and lawyers are attending the hearing.

From among plaintiffs, Akif Hasanov and Fakhraddin Pashayev from Lachin region are also participating in the hearing.

 

The applicants are Elkhan Chiragov, Adishirin Chiragov, Ramiz Gebrayilov, Akif Hasanof, Fekhreddin Pashayev and Qaraca Gabrayilov. All but Hasanof now live in Baku. The case concerns the complaints by Azerbaijani IDPs, they were forced to flee from their homes on May 17, 1992. Up to now, the Armenian authorities have not paid compensation for this damage. The applicants rely on Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection of the property) and Articles 8 (right to respect to private and family life ) and 13 (right to an effective remedy ) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Finally the applicants claim, under Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the Convention in conjunction with all the above Articles, that, if they had been ethnic Armenian and Christian, they would not have been forcibly displaced from their homes by the Armenian forces. The application was lodged with the European Court of Human Rights on April 6, 2005.

/Apa/