“The practice of beheadings was reflected exclusively in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

After the previous session of the government, Nikol Pashinyan gave a briefing again, during which one of the journalists asked whether he is ready to make a public commitment to support the punishment of war crimes on the territory of Armenia, even if it concerns the military and political elite of Azerbaijan.

“I have decided for myself that I will address these topics with the maximum directness, as I said in response to the previous questions: it’s all a double-edged sword. We must not forget the message of the New Testament: “with what judgment you judge, with the same judgment you will be judged, with the same measure you measure, with the same measure you will be measured.” I do not agree that you and I should look each other in the eye and deceive each other and, even more, deceive our people, because it is a double-edged sword. These rumors exist now, by the way, the facts, no one denies it, but we need to understand what we are talking about. And this is the trap from which we cannot get out, my opinion is that we have to get out of that trap, and we are getting out. We should be fried in our oil, each of us in our own oil,” he said noted Nikol Pashinyan.

Let us remind you that on September 13, 2022, when Azerbaijan attacked the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, there were beheadings and amputations of female soldiers at the positions of Jermuk, which the Azerbaijani soldiers filmed and distributed on Telegram channels. Conscript soldiers were also killed and filmed, including the scenes of killing a captured Armenian soldier.

Siranush Sahakyan, representative and lawyer of Armenian prisoners of war at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). referring to this statement, he noted that the fight for justice is the positive obligation of the state when crimes are committed, the investigation of these crimes is not a matter of taste, it is a legal matter, and there are commitments regarding it.

“The fight against torture is also subject to universal jurisdiction, even if no citizen of the Republic of Armenia is subjected to torture on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, and the perpetrators or witnesses are located in Armenia, and the investigation has elements of effectiveness, its failure to do so may lead to the international legal responsibility of the Republic of Armenia from the point of view of the rights of the tortured.

Therefore, torture or intentional crimes against life, the investigation of which involves punishing criminals, are within the scope of the state’s obligations. If the state does not fulfill these obligations, it leads to the violation of various conventions, in terms of litigation and procedure.” 168.amSiranush Sahakyan mentioned in a conversation with

He emphasized that it is understandable that the non-implementation of all this has exclusively political reasons in the sphere of bilateral relations, but this does not exempt him from obligations. improper political situation cannot justify non-fulfilment of international obligations.

“Now the state cannot refuse, of course we do not know what the court’s approach will be. I would like to mention that the European Court pays particular attention to those cases which have legal value and which can have an impact on the entire European region. I think that cases of this nature are in this category.

The good news is that when the Republic of Armenia filed an interstate complaint, perhaps the professional community was well aware that they could become the subject of political negotiations and bargaining, where the outcome is not guaranteed. It may start, but there will be such a multifactorial and complex situation that the will of the public authorities may be limited or not derived from the law, and this will lead to the interruption of even the started legal processes.

This is the reason why the cases revealing war crimes of high, important value were presented within the framework of an individual complaint. Victims have cooperated with human rights defenders, and the crimes we are talking about are included in individual complaints, regardless of the wishes of states. It is inevitable that we will have legal positions on these issues, and I think justice will be served on international platforms,” ​​added Siranush Sahakyan.

The international community rejects the thesis that peace can be achieved without justice. The only way that can ensure a long-term, stable and reliable peace is justice and respect for the rights of the victims. If this qualitative measure does not ensure peace, then it cannot have credibility.

“I think that the impulses of political actors are also important in that public communication. For example, when the Statute of the International Criminal Court was ratified, the message was clear that protection was being increased because those who committed these acts would be held accountable for their crimes.

The document was ratified, after which the most brutal murders and tortures, which are unknown on the European continent, took place in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. I should mention that this practice of beheadings, which was exclusively reflected in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, is not specific to other European countries, but there was no consistency in connection with these actions, so that the international criminal court would address those responsible and call for criminal responsibility. I think the only way is for the human rights community to assume this responsible burden and carry it out with honor, always remaining faithful to law and justice.

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