Armenia Has No Plans to Withdraw International Lawsuits Filed Against Azerbaijan

YEREVAN — The Armenian government has no plans yet to withdraw international lawsuits filed against Azerbaijan since the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, a senior official in Yerevan said on Monday.

The government has filed four such lawsuits in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and another one in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It accuses Azerbaijan of committing war crimes, violating the rights of Armenian prisoners, occupying Armenian territory and forcibly displacing Karabakh’s population. Baku has likewise taken Yerevan to these international tribunals, alleging various violations of international law.

“There is no such issue on the agenda right now,” said Yeghishe Kirakosyan, who represents the Armenian government in international tribunals. “The examination of cases [filed by Yerevan] is ongoing. Procedural steps necessary to ensure the examination of claims are ongoing.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had earlier said that at some stage the issue of mutual withdrawing of claims could be discussed.

Kirakosyan also noted that currently Azerbaijan has lawsuits related to Armenia in two international instances: the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice, as well as an arbitration process. “No new lawsuit has been filed by Azerbaijan,” Kirakosyan noted.