After the trials of Armenian prisoners of war gained public attention, the President of Azerbaijan made a series of militaristic statements during an interview with journalists. These statements are perceived as threats in Armenia. In an interview with 1in.am, Siranush Sahakyan, head of the "International and Comparative Law Center" and legal representative for Armenian captives at the European Court of Human Rights, responded to questions regarding Aliyev's statements, Armenia's legal response to these threats, the trials of former Artsakh leaders, and the accusations bordering on absurdity.
The issue of mutual withdrawal of claims from international courts is one of the preconditions for the "Peace Treaty." In this context, and given the broader discussions surrounding the treaty and the backdrop of such statements, Armenia must reposition itself, says Siranush Sahakyan.
“The “Peace Treaty” is a sham, and Azerbaijan is using it to buy time to rebuild its army after the war and to take measures aimed at completing its militaristic agenda. From this perspective, Azerbaijan does not conceal its territorial claims against Armenia. The ideology of “Western Azerbaijan” is fraudulent, and the establishment of “Western Azerbaijan” communities is entirely part of the state-driven actions,” stated Sahakyan.
According to Siranush Sahakyan, Armenia must take steps to recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning the crime of aggression. "However, alongside this, active measures must be taken regarding already committed crimes," she emphasized.
Speaking about the opportunities provided by the Rome Statute, the human rights advocate highlighted that there are no legal barriers; only political will is needed for Armenia's authorities to officially refer the situation to the ICC.
In an interview with the media, Aliyev referred to Armenia as a fascist state. “This fascism will be destroyed either by Armenia's leadership or by us. There is no other way,” Aliyev declared.
Siranush Sahakyan responded, stating, “It was not possible to identify any manifestation of fascism instead, this statement itself is a manifestation of fascism.”
Azerbaijani prosecutors have brought forward an extensive package of approximately 45 charges against Ruben Vardanyan. These charges carry the potential penalty of life imprisonment. Fabricated evidence has been compiled into 100 volumes, totaling around 25,000 pages, all in Azerbaijani.
Vardanyan is accused under 20 different articles of Azerbaijan's Criminal Code, but it is impossible to examine the charges as they remain inaccessible. Less than three weeks have been allotted to review the 25,000 pages of material, a task that is physically impossible. Nevertheless, the defense is expected to be fully informed by the hearing scheduled for January 17.
“It is a well-known fact that Mr. Vardanyan held office for a very short period, and the alleged acts described in the charges do not align with his time in office in any way. However, we observe an interesting pattern: Mr. Vardanyan not only objectively accused Azerbaijan of numerous crimes and violations but also managed, through his actions and persona, to draw the attention of the international community. In a mirrored reflection, all these accusations are now being directed back at Ruben Vardanyan.
Interestingly, the charges include, for example, an article on forced displacement. That is, Azerbaijan, having forcibly displaced the entire Armenian population of Artsakh in 2023, attributes this crime to Ruben Vardanyan himself. These accusations are truly absurd, highlighting the punitive nature of this approach,” stated the human rights advocate.
Addressing the issue of international cooperation in dealings with Azerbaijan, Siranush Sahakyan emphasized that, in the absence of action from Armenia, other countries are constrained.
“The Republic of Armenia must compile and present all the facts and evidence to the International Criminal Court. It would also be crucial for Armenia to engage in diplomatic efforts with foreign states. This could lead to a situation akin to that of Ukraine or Lithuania, where third countries show interest in regional issues and, in cooperation with Armenia, submit the application, thereby amplifying the political impact of the process,” she stated.
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