Lawyer: Legal action essential for preventing new Azeri aggression against Armenia

Yeghishe Kirakosyan will be dismissed as Armenia's Representative on International Legal Matters following an agreement reached months ago and his own resignation request. His departure has fueled speculation and deepened concerns that Armenia may be preparing to withdraw its lawsuits against Azerbaijan from international courts.

"Let’s wait and see how events unfold. If this does happen, it will lend credence to the claims that his resignation was linked to the legal disputes. Perhaps Kirakosyan’s stance and professional integrity influenced his resignation. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that other factors were involved," human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan, who represents Armenian prisoners at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), told Panorama.am on Thursday.

The possible withdrawal of Armenia’s lawsuits from international courts would affect cases not only at the ECHR but also at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

"The ICJ lawsuits focus on Azerbaijan’s state-sponsored policy of ethnic and national discrimination against Armenians. It's this very policy that fuels ethnic tensions and has led to the forced displacement of Artsakh Armenians, as well as international crimes against Armenians. Obviously, Azerbaijan will never put an end to this policy on its own, making legal action the only viable deterrent,” the lawyer stated.

“Furthermore, in my view, the absence of legal action has contributed to the use of military force. Even now, we are facing daily threats. Armenia is being accused of border incidents that never actually occurred. This is yet another attempt to lay the groundwork for new aggression against Armenia," Sahakyan explained.

She emphasized that Azerbaijan makes self-defense claims and creates false justifications in order to violate the prohibition on the use of force.

"Only legal action can counter this policy. Unfortunately, Armenia has already suffered defeats in the political and military spheres. Its diplomacy has failed to prevent violations of the UN Charter on aggression. Thus, the legal route remains the only option. If we abandon the legal platform, we will be left completely defenseless against arbitrary actions," Sahakyan added.