ICJ report exposes serious violations in Baku trials of Artsakh leaders

(Horizon Media / GENEVA) – The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has published a new report highlighting serious concerns regarding Azerbaijan’s judicial system, citing the ongoing trials of former Artsakh officials in Baku as a clear example of systemic violations of basic fair trial standards.

According to the report, the rights of the Artsakh leaders have been violated before the Baku military court, with proceedings marked by “practices that violate basic guarantees of justice.” The ICJ explicitly stated that the trials fail to meet international human rights law standards.

The report outlines broader structural and institutional deficiencies within Azerbaijan’s judiciary and presents the cases against the Artsakh leaders as evidence of deeper problems within the country’s legal system.

The ICJ recorded that the trials “were conducted before a military court, the defendants were denied effective access to counsel of their choosing, case materials were withheld or provided in a language the accused did not understand, defence motions were systematically dismissed without reasoning and omitted from the trial record; interpretation was inadequate or absent, and public access, including access by accredited diplomatic representatives, was denied.”

“According to publicly available reports, these trials are marked by practices that violate basic guarantees of justice… a fundamentally unfair procedural situation has been created, where the defence is deprived of any realistic opportunity to contest the charges or prove innocence. In such conditions, the very concept of a fair trial turns into a formality, devoid of any content,” the report states.

Addressing the separate case of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, the ICJ noted that some of the charges against him date back to 1988, a period during which he held no political office in Artsakh.

“The prosecution of Vardanyan for conduct alleged to have occurred in 1988 raises fundamental concerns under the principle of legality. Vardanyan held no political position at the time the charges relate to and could not have foreseen that conduct from that era would form the basis of criminal charges upon his later entry into political office. The principle of legality requires that criminal liability be foreseeable and that criminal law be applied with precision and clarity, not selectively against individuals based on their subsequent political activities,” the report explains.

The ICJ urged Azerbaijani authorities to “ensure that any appeal in the cases of the former Artsakh officials is heard by an ordinary civilian [court]. Ensure the provision of case materials to the defence in a language the accused understands and ensure adequate time and facilities for the preparation of the defence in all proceedings, including on appeal.”