ECHR obliges Azerbaijan to let seriously ill and needy people pass through the Lachin corridor

YEREVAN, December 22. /ARKA/. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Wednesday that Azerbaijan must enable essential travel between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia through the Lachin corridor blocked by Azerbaijani protesters since December 12. The corridor is the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. 

"Noting that the extent to which the Government of Azerbaijan is currently in control of the situation in the Lachin corridor is disputed and unclear at this stage, and also taking into account the obligations assumed by Azerbaijan under paragraph 6 of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, in particular, "to guarantee the safety of persons moving along the Lachin corridor in both directions, the safety of vehicles and goods”, and recalling the obligations assumed under the European Convention, the European Court ruled, on the basis of Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, to oblige Azerbaijan to take all necessary and sufficient measures to ensure the movement of seriously ill patients in need of medical care in Armenia, through the Lachin corridor, as well as the safe movement of persons left homeless on the road or in need of a livelihood,"

At the same time, the European Court decided to give priority to the complaint No. 4 filed by Armenia, in accordance with Rule 41 of the Rules of Court.

This year, on December 15, 16, 20 and 21, Armenia filed petitions for interim measures against Azerbaijan to eliminate violations of the rights of the civilian population in connection with the blocking of the Lachin corridor.

The ECHR did not address the issue of transport of food or other basic supplies to Artsakh from Armenia.-0-