ECHR rejects Armenia's claims against Azerbaijan

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has rejected Yerevan's demand to oblige Azerbaijan to immediately release 11 Armenian citizens.

In particular, the Armenian side, with reference to Rule 39 of the Azerbaijani Regulations, made two attempts to release the detainees, however, both appeals were rejected.

According to Leyla Abdullayeva, head of the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, commenting on the decisions of the Strasbourg court.

Azerbaijan welcomes the ECHR decisions as they comply with the rule of law.

It has to be noted that "the appeal of Armenia ignores the rights and obligations of Azerbaijan as set forth in the international law, to prosecute persons suspected of violating domestic legislation and international law, as well as committing serious war crimes. The decision of the ECHR lays an emphasis on this right," Abdullayeva said.

Armenia's call for the immediate release of the detainees is tantamount to calling on the Azerbaijani Government not to respect the rule of law, she added. "We are committed to these principles, and, as established by the ECHR, these people will remain in custody until the end of the criminal prosecution," the official representative of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stressed.

Two of those whom Armenia demanded to be released immediately – Ludvig Mkrtchyan and Alyosha Khosrovyan-are currently under judicial investigation on charges of torture against Azerbaijani citizens, Abdullayeva recalled. In keeping with the established principles of international and domestic law, Azerbaijan, in accordance with its rights and obligations, intends to bring this criminal prosecution to an end.

It should be added that Azerbaijan has fulfilled all the requirements applicable to these people. "Meetings of the detainees with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Commissioner for Human Rights were organized, medical documents on the state of their health were presented, including six military personnel detained by Azerbaijani servicemen on May 27," the official representative of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry concluded.

14 June 2021 / 09:49