Lawyer: Armenia complied with 65% of ECHR rulings, Azerbaijan 36%

At the annual meeting of the European Association of Judges (EAJ) in Yerevan on Thursday, human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan addressed judicial independence and human rights compliance in the South Caucaus.

Citing international reports, Sahakyan noted that Armenia’s judicial reforms lack a comprehensive strategy and its Supreme Judicial Council is not widely regarded as fully independent. In Georgia, the judiciary is said to be dominated by a closed “judicial clan”, fostering a non-transparent and unaccountable environment.

The situation in Azerbaijan is more troubling. Sahakyan stated that Azerbaijani courts often function as extensions of the executive branch, particularly in politically sensitive cases. Trials often rely on confessions obtained under torture, while lawyers, journalists and human rights activists face ongoing persecution. Azerbaijan currently holds at least 250 political prisoners, she said.

These assessments are echoed in the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). To date, the court has found 27 violations of the right to a fair trial by Armenia, 93 by Azerbaijan and 15 by Georgia. Of the 31 judgments under Article 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning abuse of legal processes, 11 have been against Azerbaijan.

In terms of compliance, Armenia has executed 65% of the ECHR judgements against it (140 out of 214), Georgia 61% (118 out of 194) and Azerbaijan just 36% (192 out of 535).

“The figures demonstrate Azerbaijan’s frequent disregard for its international obligations,” Sahakyan stressed.