European court rejects Azerbaijan’s appeal in Hayk Toroyan killing case

YEREVAN — The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has rejected Azerbaijan’s request to refer a landmark judgment concerning the killing and torture of Armenian officer Hayk Toroyan to its Grand Chamber, making the June 18 ruling final.

A five-judge panel rejected Baku’s request on November 2 in a case arising from the April 2016 war in Artsakh.

The original judgment found Azerbaijan responsible for violations of Toroyan’s right to life and the prohibition of torture. The court also recognized the suffering inflicted on his family and ordered Azerbaijan to pay €90,000 in compensation and €14,210 in legal costs.

Toroyan, a major in the Artsakh Defence Army, was killed during Azerbaijani military operations near Talish. The case concerned the circumstances of his death and the subsequent mutilation and desecration of his body.

Liparit Drmeyan, Armenia’s former representative on international legal matters, welcomed the decision, describing it as an important precedent for other cases involving alleged Azerbaijani atrocities against Armenian servicemen.

He also highlighted the contradiction between Azerbaijan’s public rejection of the court’s authority and its continued use of European judicial procedures when seeking favourable outcomes.

The final judgment represents a significant legal development in efforts to establish accountability for violations committed during the April 2016 war.