MP raises show trials of Armenian prisoners at PACE debate

MP Armen Gevorgyan called attention to the sham trials of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan as he addressed a PACE debate on Wednesday. His full statement is provided below.

"Dear colleagues,

Today, the decline of democracy in many states goes hand in hand with a growing erosion of confidence in the judiciary. As we assess the effectiveness of the execution of the European Court’s judgments, we must remember: this is not merely a matter of legal formality. It is about public trust in justice and about the future of the rule of law in our countries.

In this context, it is essential to understand how the European Court’s decisions actually influence the quality of justice and contribute to the strengthening of democratic institutions.

Perhaps it is time for the Council of Europe to move beyond statistics and assess whether the Court’s judgments are truly reshaping legal cultures and driving institutional reform.

Because strong justice systems require more than compliance, they need independence, courage, and, most crucially, the trust of citizens, not of political elites.

The challenges faced by my country, Armenia, are part of a broader trend, where national courts may formally acknowledge the European Court’s judgments, yet fail to integrate them into everyday legal practice.

As a result, we continue to witness rulings that disregard the Court’s standards and are later overturned in Strasbourg, time and again.

This disconnect is not accidental.

Many judges, instead of upholding the law, align their decisions with the preferences of those in power. They depart from Convention often made to avoid political confrontation.

In Armenia, we are witnessing a growing number of such cases, particularly in matters of arrest and detention.

Judges issue rulings that contradict the Convention, relying on the fact that accountability, if it comes, may take years.

Increasingly, Armenian courts are perceived not as guarantors of justice, but as instruments of domestic political agendas. There have been instances of direct public violations by the Government of the independence of judiciary, which should also be perceived as a serious discredit to the Convention.

Madam Chair,

In conclusion, I must also draw attention to today’s alarming news: Azerbaijan has announced it will not comply with the judgments of the European Court, citing the non-ratification of its Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe delegation. This is a blatant political blackmail, typical of authoritarian regimes.

President Ilham ALIYEV has already deprived tens of thousands of Armenians of their rights, holds disgraceful show trials of Armenian prisoners, and now denies Azerbaijani citizens access to justice in Strasbourg.

These are the result of Europe’s dangerous compromises with a regime that trades gas for human rights.

And now we are witnessing not only the destruction of the International Criminal Court, but a real threat to start losing the European Convention-based human rights system.

Thank you."