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 Azerbaijani media outlets quote local statesmen as saying that European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has underlined in its judgment of refugees vs. Armenia case that “Nagorno-Karabakh is a main part of Azerbaijan” and that Armenia’s armed forces “have occupied a part of Azerbaijani territory” which is completely false. Panorama.am asked Gevorg Kostanyan, Armenian Government’s envoy in ECHR, to remark on ECHR judgments referring to “Chiragov and others vs. Armenia” and “Sargsyan vs. Azerbaijan” cases.

“The court couldn’t adopt such a decision as Armenia with its refugees imposes that Armenia doesn’t have any jurisdiction towards the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and its territory,” added Kostanyan underlining that ECHR has recorded this in its judgment. According to Kostanyan the judgment of this case will be “the first and the only” document citing if Armenia has any jurisdiction towards Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia’s envoy has stated that Armenian side has passed to the European Court of Human Rights objections that Armenia doesn’t own and cannot own any jurisdiction towards the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Introducing in details the ECHR judgment, Armenia’s envoy has particularly pointed on the 84th article, which defines that the Court hasn’t refused those objections but is determined to discuss them during the next phase.

“This is a serious judicial process and our arguments are strong and justified, that is why the Court faced a challenge to adopt a final decision. Moreover, the Court hasn’t refused and hasn’t owned sufficient grounds to refuse the government’s objections,” Gevorg Kostanyan said.

He said it’s alarming when Azerbaijani officials spread false information. “Such information is absurd and is not correct in terms of proficiency,” Kostanyan noted.

According to G. Kostanyan there are lots of possibilities before the second phase, including the implementation of data collecting mission, written examination or hearings, where witnesses will be engaged. In the aftermath of all these procedures ECHR judgment will be released.

Armenia’s envoy to ECHR says he thinks that some political elements can be “found” in ECHR judgment. “The European Court has taken into account the political situation trying to balance the relations, as I think those two issues don’t have similarities in their structure and significance,” said G. Kostanyan.

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