ECHR delivers judgement in beheaded Armenian soldier's case

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Thursday found Azerbaijan responsible for multiple violations in the case of an Armenian soldier who was tortured and decapitated during the April 2016 war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The court ruled in H.T. and Others v. Azerbaijan that Azerbaijani servicemen unlawfully killed H.T., a major in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s army, after he was captured near the village of Talish. His parents and sister alleged he was mutilated while still alive, and his body was returned without his head and hands.

Judges determined Azerbaijan had violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to life) and Article 3 (prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment), both in relation to H.T.’s suffering and the anguish endured by his family. The court also noted breaches of Articles 8, 13 and 14, covering family life, effective remedy, and discrimination.

The ruling ordered Azerbaijan to pay €60,000 in non-pecuniary damages jointly to H.T.’s parents, €30,000 to his sister, and €14,210 in costs and expenses.

The case is one of 22 applications pending before the court involving similar allegations of mutilation and mistreatment of Armenian soldiers during the April 2016 clashes.