Lawyer says Azerbaijan attacking ECHR instead of addressing torture ruling

(Horizon Media / YEREVAN) — Azerbaijan’s response to a recent European Court of Human Rights judgment in favour of Armenian applicants has been “painful and aggressive,” lawyer Siranush Sahakyan said, accusing Baku of trying to discredit the court rather than confronting the gravity of the case.

Sahakyan, who represents the applicants and serves as Executive Director of the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights, was commenting on Azerbaijan’s reaction to the ECHR judgment in V.T. and Others v. Azerbaijan. Following the ruling, Azerbaijan sent a protest note to the court, while its Foreign Ministry described the decision as unfair, biased and contrary to international law.

Sahakyan said Baku’s reaction showed no remorse and no willingness to change the conduct that led to the case.

“Instead of expressing regret for what happened or committing to changing their practices, they are accusing international institutions of unfairness,” she said.

She also rejected Azerbaijan’s assertion that the court had relied on limited testimony. Sahakyan said the case was supported by an extensive body of evidence, including the struck vehicle, the recovered body, medical and forensic examinations documenting the injuries, additional expert findings identifying the severed head of the Armenian serviceman, the identification of the perpetrator, and an interview in which he admitted to the crime.

The ECHR published its judgment on June 18. The case concerns Armenian serviceman H.T., who was wounded and incapacitated during the April 2016 Four-Day War before coming into contact with Azerbaijani forces.

The applicants, H.T.’s parents and sister, told the court that he had been unable to walk after being wounded, was tortured by Azerbaijani servicemen and then killed by beheading. They also said the family was prevented from recovering all parts of his body, depriving them of the possibility of a proper burial.

The case is among a series of legal efforts seeking accountability for grave violations committed against Armenian servicemen and civilians during and after the April 2016 war.